Fame And Fortune Weekly (no. 778) (1920 08 27)

Page 1

STORIES OF BOYS THAT MAKE MONEY. STOLEN CHART: REASURE OF THE CATARACT > By. A. 3) ELF -MADE. MAN ano otner sroris The weight of the treasure chest was too much for the cayuse. The animal slipped, lost its Dalance, and was pulled over into the foaming river Mose and the boys uttered exclamations of dismay as they saw the chest disappear. eee ee 2

Page 2

Page 3

HAROLD G. LORANG, | Ee ee —- yee, VeumUny OSUU; 5 . ¥. Entered as Second-Class Matter, Issued Weekin sete tion ee est 23d Street. Rew York, the Post-Office at New York, N. No. 778. Y., under the Act of March 38, 1879. NEW YORK, AUGUST 27, 1920. WEEKLY pore; THE STOLEN CHART ~ Or, THE TREASURE OF THE CATARACT BY A SELF-MADE MAN ~ CHAPTER I.—The Strange Sailor. “For the love of Pete, what do you call this thing that’s coming along?” exclaimed a thick- set boy named Bill Nye, to his companion, Jack Draper, a la® of about his own age, as they were crossing a railroad bridge thrown over a deep gully, in the dusk of a summer’s evening. : “What do I call it? Why, it’s a man, plain enough,” replied Jack. “What did you think it was—a a “But look at him! Did you ever see such a Piratical-looking rooster in real life before? He’s a sailor. Get on to his rolling gait.” “Why wouldn’t he roll? The fellow is as drunk as a boiled owl.” “T wonder what brings him out this way?” “Tf your curious on the subject, you might wait here till he comes up and ask him,” chuck- led Jack. ; a “Aw, don’t be funny,” growled Bill. “I ain’t -- . interested in the guy.” : There were two tracks on the bridge, and be- tween them was a plank walk wide enough for _ two persons to walk abreast. Many of the resi- dents of Ringbolt village used the bridge as a short cut to a patch of beach which, sheltered by the beetling cliffs overlooking the broad Atlantic, and a curving promontory, afforded an ideal bath- ing ground. Bill and Jack used it regularly twice a rh in going to and coming from the fish can- ning establishment where they worked. Thrown on their own resources through the loss of their ents, they had drifted to Ringbolt—one from ‘oston and the other from Portland—and their chanee acquaintance had ripened into a warm friendship. - Their nomadic experiences led them, after they ame together, to take up their home in a small two-roomed house, with an attic, situated on the edge of a salt marsh, fed by the ocean tides, which had been deserted for a great many years when they took possession of it. No one disput- ing their t to live there} they furnished it == a couple ‘of cots, three chairs, a plain deal table, 2 small cook-stove, and such other neces- _ sary articles as they needed to carry on their Nt ening arrangements. Here they had ~~ dwelt for past six months, rent free, and lords of all they surveyed from the rear win- _ dow, which view ee ee but the marsh _ aforesaid, and a con glimpse of the ocean _ between a break in the line of cliffs. The havse _ stood about one hundred yards from the railroad bridge, and out of sight from any other habita- « go & = PS om he oer Pee eae Dg eee ee oe The — could. see it from the center of the bridge, where the} had paused, each with a bun- dle of groceries and other food under their arms, to gaze at the odd-looking sailor who was com- ing toward them. He had staggered upon the foot-path, and after blinking around him in the fast-fading light, he started to cross the bridge. At that moment a locomotive, pulling a heavy train at a fast clip, came humming around the curve beyond the bridge. The headlight threw its white glare down the rails, and full upon the bridge, and the engineer saw Jack in the act of raising the intoxica seaman from the track With an exclamation he seized the reverse lever. “Whistle down brakes!” he shouted hoarsely to his fireman. “Two people on the track on the bridge.” . _A succession of wild shrieks startled the eve- ning air, and the sudden jarring and bumping of the cars together, threw the passengers against one another as the air brakes seized the wheels and ground against them. A panic ran through the train as it glided forward with the ponderous driving’ wheels revolving backward in a vain ef- fort to stop its momentum entirely. The fireman had turned on the sand to help things, but it was out of the question to stop the train before at least a part of it had crossed the bridge. But Jack’s activity averted a catastrophe in which his pluck might have involved himself. He pulled the sailor clear just as the locomotive~shot past the spot. In a few minutes it had disappeared in the direction of the village. The escape the sai- lor had had of his life appeared to have sobered him somewhat, and he recognized Jack as his preserver. - “Blow me, my hearty, you’ve done me a good turn, and Bill Brandon ain’t the chap to forget an obligation, d’ye understand?” “You’re welcome,” said Jack. is William Brandon?” “Bill Brandon, shipmate. Now, what’s yours?" “Jack Draper. You’re a stranger in this neigh- borhood.” “I’ve been here before—eight year ago.” “That so? What’s bringing you out this way so late? Out of your reckoning?” ; rin’ “Not a bit of it, my hearty.‘ I’m s Tucker, who lives in the little house on the edge “So your name, straight for the house oF my old shipmate, of the marsh.” “The little house on the edge of the marsh!” exclaimed Jack, in surprise. “Why, your friend doesn’t live there” arse : *

Page 4

Z - THE STOLEN CHART “Eh! Dan doesn’t live there? What’s become of him?” ~ “T couldn’t tell you. I never heard of him.” eee heard of Dan Tucker?” “ 0.” “How long have you been ’round here?” “Six months.” “Who’s livin’ in the little house now? on he’ll know somethin’ about Dan.” S friend here, and myself.” “What! You two?” “Yes. We found the house deserted and we took possession of it. Perhaps you'll accompany us there and have a bite with us. We're bound heme from work.” “TJ reckon I will, shipmate, for I feel kind of done up, and it might not be good for me to go - back to the village. I'll allow that it looks like Bian has slipped his cable for Fiddlers’ Green.” “Where is that?” “Where’s what?” “Fiddlers’ Green. I reck- I never heard of the place.” “Never heard of it, eh? That’s the port of missin’ ships. Once a chap drops anchor there that’s the [ast of him. He’s signed his last ar- tieles. He’s dead.” “Oh, I see,” said Jack. good.” : “Right you are, my hearty.” The boys took the mariner to the house and told him to rhake himself at home. This he pro- eeeded to do by pulling out a dirty pipe, filling it with tobacco and commencing to smoke. While Bill pealed some potatoes, Jack started the fire gnd put the small kettle on to boil: By the time Bill had the potatoes. pealed and sliced his house- mate was making a Ee coffee. A mess of bacon and eggs for t , with friend potatoes, was Scan by Jack while Bill set the table. The sailor watched the busy lads, but said not a word until the meal was ready and he was in- vited to draw up his chair. ee “Tll allow, my hearties, that the smell of that . there food makes me kind of peckish, and I’m 7 obliged to you for the invitation to shove my legs under your table. I’d rather eat here than shape my course for a village eatin’-house for reasons which maybe T’ll tell you by and by.” Bill Brandon had a good appetite, as also had the boys, after their day of toil, so there were ‘few scraps left when the meal was over. After the dishes were put’ away they took stools out- doors. “He’s gone aloft for oer CHAPTER II.—The Sailor’s Yarn. oe “J suppose you intended to stay here all night $f you had found your friend, Dan Tucker?” said - Jack to their visitor. _ “ll allow such was the way I figgered,” ad- - mitted the sailor. - “You’re welcome to stay here, if you'll _ up w in the at- Bill and me \ I reckon I’ll accept. rt in a storm, is my motto.” y right, Mr. Brandon; then that point is my hearty! Don't put no handle to =} « + 2 eA eS ee when I woke u my name. I ain’t used to it. Call me Bill. That’s what I answer to, and nobody ealls me anythin’ else.” “All right, but my friend here is named Bill, too.” “What’s the diff’rence?”. said the “There’s a lot of Bills in the world.” “IT suppose it’s a good deal of a disappoint- ment to you not to find your old friend, Dan Tucker.” “TV’ll allow it is. I had a particular reason for wantin’ to see Dan.” “How long is it since» you last saw him?” “About eight year. He and me used to sail together years ago before he caught the rheuma- tiz so bad he had to lay up ashore.” “Then you were old shipmates,” said Jack. The sailor nodded and expectorated into a near-by bush. “We always hung together when we were dis- charged at the end of a y’yage, and when our coin ran short we made it a p’int to sign aboard the same hooker for a new one. I would not have gone to sea without Dan if I could have helped it, but the time came when I had to, and I felt like a fish out of water for a while. Dan’s uncle owned this house, and the marsh, too, so Dan said. When he couldn’t go to sea no more his uncle let him live here; that’s how Dan came to anchor outside the village. I stayed with him a month or two and then I concluded it was time for me to make another trip, for I hadn’t a shot left in my locker, which you understand means that I was flat broke.” sailor. “So you shi again,” said Jack. ‘ “I did. I didn’t want to make a long v’yage no more, so when I got to Boston I looked around for some hooker bound for Rio or Buenos Ayres, m South America.” “And you found one, I suppose?” “That’s where you’re wrong, my hearty. I would have found one if I had had half a chance; but, you see, I made the acquaintance of one of them blamed landsharks that hang around the wharves. He was sich a smooth chap for slingin’ a yarn that I kind of cottoned to him. What was the result? He took me to his boardin’-house. There I was hocussed with drugged licker, and I found I had been shanghaied aboard a craft bound ’round the Horn for Frisco.” _ ; “That was a fierce deal,” said Bill Nye. “Oh, well, what kin you'do when you're fool enough to fall to the game? From ‘Frisco the vessel went to China, and from China to Calcutta, and from Calcutta to London. I was end well used to her by that time, though the skipper and mates warn’t angels, by a long shot. However, I calculated we'd return to Boston straight away, and as I had considerable wages due me, I figgerin’ on havin’ a swell time with Dan for six months at least.” “Didn’t you get back to Boston?” asked Jack. “Not on that vessel, I didn’t. She got a Bom- bay charter instead of one for the States, and back we all went to the Injies—me a-kickin’ like a steer; but it didn’t do no good.” ee “But why did you age for the voyage if you © didn’t want to make it?” Yr Pos “T didn’t sign. J was shanghaied again.” . - “What! Twice on the same vessel?” eee

Page 5

THE STOLEN CHART 8 “Ay, ay, my hearty. They done me up brown.” “And so you went to Bombay?” ; *T did, and afterward to the Cape.” .“What cape?” ‘ + “Of Good Hope. Cape Town, in South Africa. And from there we sailed for New York.” “Where you arrived in due time.” “That’s where you’re wrong, matey. I didn’t.” “What prevented you, if the ship was bound there?” : “A tremenjous ashore in the mou “In Brazil?” “Prevactly.” “Was the vessel lost?” “Not a timber was left of her.” “Then I suppose some of the people on board were lost?” : “They were all lost ’ceptin’ me.” -“Gee! You were lucky,”:said Nye. : “Maybe I was; but you see I was taken pris- _ oner by a band of natives, carried a long way up the river, and compelled to work like a mule in - the fields for five year. At last I made my es- cape, reached the coast, found my way to George- town, shipped on a schooner to Kingston, Ja- maica, and reached Boston two days ago.” “Broke, I suppose,” said Jack. “Flat. but holdin’ the key to a treasure that would make me a rich chap if I could get my flukes on it.” ¢ OR -- _ *A treasure!” exclaimed both the boys in a hn breath. . “Prezactly. The treasure of the cataract.” “What cataract?” asked Jack. birt “Of the Amazon River.” - “What does the treasure consist of—money ?” oe jewels, and sich like,” nodded the er. “And you discovered it?” _ “No, I didn’t. I said I held the key to where it’s hidden.” : “You mean somebody told you where it was awe Re Veen e which drove the vessel of the Amazon.” '__ “FT| allow somebody did, and he gave me a _ chart which p’ints out the exact place where it is. _ _ “Why didn’t this party secure the treasure for himself instead of putting you on to it?” - “For the best of reasons, my hearty; because » couldn't.” Bs __ “Why couldn’t he, if he had a chart showing where it was?” ; S : “ across He was dying, then?” : So. fast you could’ see him slippin’ his cable “Where did you meet him, and under what qo: “In Cayenne, French Guiana. I was in a dram 2 on the water front on the night I got there, _ after comin’ up the coast on a sloop. There was _ @ rumpus in the street_and some one cried ‘Mur- _ der.’ I rushed out in time-to see a man tryin’ to defend himself against three rascals with knives. With a yell, I rushed to help him. “The scoun- s scattered and fled, but the chap had been so badly he fell in a heap in the street. He he was done for and wouldn't let me move the dram-shop and send for a doctor. He “no use, and it warn’t. Afore he ares “=f ae “Because he hadn’t an hour’s life in him when | him.” died he handed me the chart, which he said was the cause of his slippin’ his cable, told me about the treasure, and warned me to look out for the three men who had attacked him, who, he ‘said, were after the chart.” , “Were they?” ‘ “They were, my hearty, as I had reason to know afore I léft Cayenne. “Did they suspect you had got possession of it and try to get it from you?” “They knew I had it.” “And they attacked you?” “No, for I didn’t give ’em the chance, but they kept me in sight, and when I found a berth aboard a schooner bound for Georgetown, they followed me.” : “How did you escape them?” “I accidentally saw ’em in a wine-shop, know’d what I might expect, and kept my weather-eye liftin’ for squalls. In that way I disapp’inted ’em; but”—and the sailor’s voice drop to a whisper—‘“one of ’em followed me to Kingston, and I saw him in Boston the day I got there. He’s after me, and now that my old messmate has slipped his moorin’s, I ain’t sure but he'll get me—and the chart, too.” 39 “You’ve got the chart with you, I suppose?” “T don’t fingw any place safer for it than——* © At that moment Bill Nye sprang from his_ seat, jumped for the corner of the house, and- . ¢vanished around it, greatly to Jack’s surprise. In a few moments he returned. = “What sas the matter, Bill?” asked his chum, “I saw the figure of a man standing at the— corner of the building listening to us,” he said. — “I tried to get him, but he gave me the slip in the darkness.” : : The sailor uttered a deep imprecation. “It’s the chap who followed me from George- town,” he said. Z CHAPTER III.—The Man in the House. “What makes you think i is?” asked Jack. “More likely it was a tramp who was piping us off, and perhaps figuring en a touch.” “No, it warn’t no hobo,” said the sailor, shak- ing his head positively. “It was the rascal who- is on my noth He's stitkin’ to me as close ‘as © ee He’s bound to get that there chart if he ~ in. “What kind of looking fellow is he?” “He’s a foreigner. His skin is as dark as one , of the natives in the tropics, and he’s got whis- $ kers to burn on his face. Then his eye—it’s a bad one. I dunno how I’ve managed to hold him~ off, but I reckon it’s’ because I’ve slept with one eye open when I knew he was around.” “You say you saw him in Boston when you arrived there? a : s “How did he know you were going there?” — “Easy enough. He shadowed ad all around © Kingston, watchin’ for a chance to’do me up, and — failin’, he found out the craft I shipped in, and — : where she was bound for.” : : cine Samat ore meters aad g to over! yu if ; to-night ?” + oe ESA re es wat Sh etlk eae ES — = UA, Sr

Page 6

4 He knows I won’t stir a step from here now, at least not alone,” said Brandon. “Bill and me will stand by you,” said Jack. ““Thanks, matey. I owe you one, anyway, for savin’ my life, and if I kin repay you I will. If the three of us could start for South America and get the treasure of the cataract, I’d be will- in’ to give you and your messmate half of it.” The evening was spent talking about the treas- ure. Brandon showed them the chart, which represented a section of the Amazon river, drawn to a scale, from a certain village, the name of which was given, to the cataract where the treas- ure chest lay concealed by the waters of the falls. The spot where jit rested was marked by a small square, and its distance from the bank given in feet. A tree and a huge rock were in- dicated as special landmarks that would guide the searcher to the right place. Jack suggested that a copy be made of the chart to guard against the loss of the original. The sailor agreed, and the boy reproduced the sketch as well as he could. “The copy wouldn’t be much good if those ras- eals got the chart into their hands, for they would lose no time in securing the treasure,” said Bill Nye. __ “Very likely,” replied his chum, “but still, it’s just as well to have two strings to one’s bow, since the chart might be lost without falling into their hands.” : . : Before retiring the door was barricaded, but the night passed without any alarm. The fol- lowing day was Saturday and pay-day. When the boys went to the office for their money they were told that their services would not be re- any more until the next spring. They were somewhat surprised, for they had not ex- _ pected to be laid off so soon. They met the sailor at the general store, where they made some more purchases, and found him the popular personage of the bunclr of loungers who daily congregated in front of Jones’s store to swap _ @xperiences, and talk politics. On their way ' home Jack told the sailor that they had been off at the canning establishment, and must cons for other work in the neighborhood, unless 5a RAE m could show them the way of reaching aia Amazon River without calling for the ex- _ penditure of much money. ; - “Well, my hearties, there ain’t no easier way than to ship afore the mast in some hooker that’s ; orcs i) siathy cleat teeth peg a _ 'They’re all pretty close er, sO on’t make ‘uch difference which of them ports we to.” _ “Which is the nearest to the Amazon River?” _. asked Jack. : - PS aad is, That’s the chief port in French * 400 miles.” ” ; _ _ “Suppose we reach Cayenne, or either of the 2 _ other places; how do we get to the river?” ~ gail between the towns near the mouth of the “and other places up and down the coast. 7 makin’ my escape from the natives far up river, some 500 miles west of where the | is, I reached the town of Macapa, near f the Amazon. After hangin’ ’round THE STOLEN “There are small tradin’ fore-and-afters that CHART there a week, I found a craft that was bound for Cayenne and shipped in her, and from Cayenne I went to Georgetown in another vessel, as I told you afore. There won’t be no trouble get- tin’ to Macapa once we reach the Guianas, and Macapa is the best place for us to start up the river from. The chart shows that Serpa is the - nearest town to the cataract, and the distance given is 25 miles east. We can hire some small sloop at Macapa and sail straight to the cataract. We'll need to take along a month’s grub, for it’s a long distance from Macapa to Serpa.” “Bill and I will have to figure up whether eve’ve got money enough to do all that,” said Jack. “It won’t take a whole lot, my hearties,” said the sailor. “If you kin scrape up $50 between you, we'll make it do, for there’s a fortune at the other end as big as the whale that swallowed Ben Higgins.” “Oh, we’ve got more’n $50—nearer $100,” said Jack. “Then we're all right, shipmate,” sailor, slapping Jack on the back. They soon reached the house and supper was presently under way. After the meal was over the mariner got out his pipe and began to smoke as usual, then he pulled a flask of gin out of his pocket and treated himself to a drink. .. “Have some, shipmates?” he said. “No, we never drink spirituous liquor,” said Jack. - “Maybe you’re right to steer clear of it, for you’re only boys and it might stop you from growing,” he grinned, helping himself to another sie pt smacking his lips over it. : as hen did you start drinking, Brandon?” said ack. “When? Long afore I kin remember. Why, I was weaned on gin!” : “Get out; what are you giving us?” put in Bill Nye. “The truth, ray hearty,” said the sailor, helping | himself. to another dram. Nye uttered a snort and walked outside, where he was presently join- ed by Jack. It was not long before they heard the sailor piping up his vocal organs inside. “The dead men sat on the carpenter’s chest. Sing ho, and a bottle of rum.” “Gee! He’s drunk again,” said Bill Nye. “Davy Jones and the shark had got the——” Then the. sailor uttered an awful yell, followed — by “Murder!” . “What in creation is the matter with him?” cried Jack, as the boys sprang on their feet and looked in at the door. uss They were staggered by what bra | saw.” A short, wiry, dark-skinned and bearded man had B .don by the throat and was struggling to tear the treasure chart out of his hands, but drunk as the mariner was, he clung on to it like grim death and yelled for help. said the CHAPTER IV.—A Strenuous Time. “Hi, there, you scoundrel, what are you up to?” ores fe bras ‘jumping to the rescue, followed ‘by : Nye. 2 i The rascal gave a final tug. tore the paper out _ .0f the sailor’s hands, and drawing an Ugly-look- ie -

Page 7

THE STOLEN CHART ing knife, made a dash at the boys, who stood between him and the doorway. _ “Out of my way!” he hissed, lunging at Jack. The boys instinctively drew back,. leaving the road clear for the man. As the fellow darted ~ for the door Bill Nye put out his foot and the : rascal tripped over it, pitching headlong outside and dropping his knife in the effort to save him- self. Jack saw his chance and springing after the scoundrel, leaped on his back and he d him down. But the fellow was as lithe as a panther. He upset Jack and was wriggling himself free when Bill Nye came up and hit him a staggering blow under the ear that sent him rolling on the ground. ~Both of the boys seized him and drag- ged him into the house, closing the door. They got the chart away from him and let him get up, He regarded them with sullen fury, as he stood in a crouching attitude near the table. ; - “By gar! I feex you for dees!” he hissed, his snaky-looking eyes spitting fire. “T think it’s more likely that we'll fix you, you rascal,” said Jack. “We were witnesses of your assault upon that sailor, for which you can be arrested and punished by the village magistrate, even if he does not consider it serious enough to a hold you for a regular trial at the county town. Besides, you tried to steal that chart, which be- ‘longs ‘to the sailor. I guess you’ve put your _ foot in it this time.” i “Comment! You,say,ze chart to ze sailor be- 7 longs? Bet ees von grand lie!” cried the in- - truder, in an excited tone. “He stole ze chart — from ze man what own heem, and I come two, _ tree t’ousan’ mile to get heem back.” “Aw, tell that to the marines,” said Bill Nye. “Saere! Tell ze marines nossing. I want ze chart! Comprennez vous? “ You give heem up, ee my way.” 22 ; . : __ *¥ou'll have to take it out in wanting,” said _ © Jack. “You’ve got an awful nerve to ask for it.” “You mean to keep heem?” ~ “Yes, we’re going to keep it, and you’re going to the lockup. Get a piece of rope, Bill, so we can tie his arms behind him.” _ Jack picked up the knife which had been drop- ped by the intruder. It was a nasty-looking _ Weapon, with a blade, thin and sharp, a foot long. : soe you s’all not tie me. I will fight to ze (ag The rascal looked dangerous even without a weapon, and Jack knew that they would have a nd as active as a wild cat. Bill Nye walked to -. @ corner of the room and took down a stout piece of line that hung from a nail, the Frenchman watching him out of the corner of his eye. z “So you're going to put up a fight, are you? said Jack, stepping up to the table. _ The intruder made no reply, but seemed to be preparing himself for the struggle that he looked for. Jack pulled out the drawer and laid his Jot of trouble in securing him. for he was lithe _ again as soon as they d 6 around so that his body came between him and the pointed revolver. Then, before the discom« fited Jack could make a move, he shoved Bill against the table, causing it to tip. The lamp fell with a crash and rolled into the sailor’s lap, The hot chimney burned one of Brandon’s hairy hands and he staggered up with a howl of pain, which action caused the lamp to drop on the floor and go out. The room was instantly enveloped in darkness. The Frenchman proceeded to take ad- vantage of that fact and the confusion his action had caused. He glided toward the door, intend- ing to make his exit. Here Jack’s presence of mind came into play. Pointing the revolver to- ward the side wall, he pulled the trigger. He surmised what the Frenchman would do, and he knew that the flash of the weapon would show him the position of the raseal. It did, but tha shot bore unexpected fruit. At the moment Jack fired the intruder was in line with the revolver. The result was, the bullet clipped his skull and he fell stunned to the floor. “Get a match, Bill,” said Jack; “I’m afraid I’va accidentally killed the rascal. I didn’t suspect that he was in line with my gun.” Bill Nye groped his way to the shelf, where they kept the match-box, struck a lucifer, and lighted a small piece of candle. The light re« vealed the sailor nursing his injured hand and swearing in choice terms, near the door. It alsa showed the motionless form of the Frenchman, ; stretched out on the floor, bleeding from a red Pay furrow on the side of his head. : “Hold the light, Bill, till I see if he’s dead”. said Jack. “It’s fierce to kill a man, even acci- : dentally. This is a bad night’s work.” ts Jack knelt beside the motionless and bleedin: ae Frenchman and looked at him. Then he felt of — the man’s heart. It was beating all right. “He’s not dead. His heart is beating quite 3 strongly. I guess the bullet only stunned him. ie I’m mighty glad he isn’t. It might put a spoke in our plans about the treasure. Get some water and a -towel, and I’ll patch him up,” said Jack. ~ Jack washed the blood from the Frenchman's wound, but it continued to bleed quite frealy, The only thing he could do was to bind the fel- low’s head up with the towel. Then, as a pre- cautionary measure, in case the man should play "possum on them when he recovered his senses, ack tied his ankles together. : sf “Where’s Brandon?” he asked, looking around and not seeing the sailor. ; BS, “Blessed if I know,” replied Bill, also looking ~ around. : = They looked for him, and found the sailor stretched ‘out on Nye’s cot, asleep and snoring. Ete — for all night,” said Jack. : “Well, he won’t stay in my cot all night if I - know it,” said Bill. “Give me a hand, and “we'll carry him into the next room and let him sleep — it out on the floor.” a The boys grabbed: the drunken marine and pulled him into the living-room. He woké up partially, and wanted to fight, but fell asleep — a é ped him in a corner. — “What shall we do with the Frenchman ?” asked Bill. “We can’t keep him in here all zight, and the constable’s house is more than a m'‘e awny. “When he recovers his senses ‘we'll sake bie outside and tie him toa tree” =~ ——

Page 8

“Why not do it before he recovers, and then we'll have less trouble with him?” “All ‘right, we'll do that,” said Jack. CHAPTER V.—In the Sailor’s Grasp. :~ “Say, Bill!” cried Jack. ; ; :- “Hello,” returned his chum, from the inner f foom. } “The prisoner has escaped.” . “The dickens he has!” exclaimed Bill. “Yes, he’s gone. I don’t see how he got away, for we tied him’ securely.” 7 , “He’s the slipperiest chap I ever came across,” - , said Bill, coming out. ; : They walked over to the tree and found the 1 line which had bound the Frenchman lying in a heap on the ground, It had been cut by a knife. ; “Say, maybe some boys on their way to the ° beach saw him tied up here, came over and set * him free,” said Bill, as the idea occurred to him. = “That’s so, I didn’t think of that. No doubt a he gave them some kind of a yarn to account for = his situation, and they believed him,” said Jack. The boys subsequently learned that such was SS the case. The sailor didn’t wake up for some __‘Rours afterward, and then Jack cooked him some- _ thing to eat. He had a confused idea that some- thing had happened the night before, and was : ar eel. He almost got away from hoth of as, but we finally landed him.” __ _ “What did you do with him, shipmate?” _ Jack told him that they had tied him to a tree outside, but he was not there when he looked out, after getting up. The boys completed their prep- _ 2a¥ations for leaving the neighborhood during the _ Sav, for having decided to make the trip to the ér-azon, it was sore Si waste of time to delay t'-ir departure. Believing that the Frenchman = : close tab on Ae eee ae) coy ‘Ss your cha e boy. e \ras- » _ ~ tal got it away from you, for you were too drunk ae ‘to offer much of a resistance. That fellow is a ‘ THE STOLEN CHART When the time came for them to start out, the boys reconnoitered the immediate neighborhood to see if the Frenchman was lurking around, and seeing no signs of him, they nailed up the door, and with their grips in their hands, the sailor~ net being embarrassed with any baggage, they started for the station along the edge of the salt marsh. The path they followed was a lonesome one, and they were not likely to meet anybody along it. They reached a road that led in one direction to the farming district, and in the other to the station. It wanted only ten minutes of train time when they reached the station without incident. Jack bought three tickets through to Boston, and they sat down in the waiting-room and found themselves apparently the only -pas- Sengers who were going to take the train that evening. “Here comes the train. Let’s get out on the platform.” said Jack shortly. 2 He and Bill Nye grabbed their grips and start- ed for the doof® As they passed outside, a face that had been watching them through a back window disappeared, and through a near-by door the Frenchman, looking more villainous than ever, with his head bound up with a cloth, glided into the waiting-room. He went up to the ticket win- ~ dow. “T takes ze one tickeet gr a gee monsieur.” The agent stamped the ticket and handed it out to the foreigner, with the change coming to - him out of a ten-dollar pill. “Ze ozaire trois passenjaire zey also take ze tickeet for Bos-ton—oui?” he sail, like a persén who was certain of the fact. The agent stared’at the Frenchman. “If you’re going to take that train, you'd bet- ter get a move on,” he said. The rascal saw he had no time to lose, so af- ter making a grimace at the agent, expressive of disgust, he started for the platfrom, and boarded the car behind that taken by the sailor and the boys. Soon after the train reached Portsmouth the express from Portland came in and picked up the few persons waiting for it at that late hour. It was made up largely of sleepers, with only one day-coach and*a smoker. The boys and their companion got into the day coach and the French- man sneaked tnto the smoking-car. The train was half an hour on its way tc Boston when Bill Brandon entered the smoker, sank into the first vacant seat he came to, pulled out, Alled and lighted his pipe, and settled himself to en- joy a smoke. He pulled out his whisky fl saw there were a couple of drinks in it, an helped himself to.one. Ten minutes later he took the other drink and looked at the empty flask regretfully. At that moment the Fren lan came down the aisle to get a drink of water. He had not seen the sailor come into the car, and did not expect to meet him. Their eyes met, and Brandon was fairly staggered to find his enemy already on his trail, as though he had never lost it for a moment. With an imprecation he sprang on his feet and-reached for the rascal. Frenchman was retreat, -but in - 50 “he slip Brandon: ‘Jaid~ hold ing : -and fell. his* leg--with* a -poweFful grip. are “Now I’ve got you, you son of a sea cook, and The uicker than he, and turned to —

Page 9

THE STOLEN CHART - 4 I’m going to fix you for keeps,” he said, in a tone that meant business. He dragged the foreigner out onto the plat- form of the car. ; “Say your prayers, you piratical lubber, for you ain’t got more’n a minute to live!” cried the sailor, ing the Frenchman as a terrier might @ good-sized rat. “I’m goin’ to chuck you over- board from this here train.” The dark-skinned man struggled and squirm- ed, but he was like a child in the grasp of the sailor, who was fully determined to be rid of his pursuer forever. At that moment the door of the smoker opened, and the conductor came out with his lantern in his hand. He saw the two struggling figures in the dark halfway down the steps of the car. - “Hello, what is this?” he cried, flashing the light on them. “Help!” screamed the Frenchman. The door of the day coach opened and Jack came out. He was going forward to see what was keeping the sailor. The flashing of the lan- tern showed him the faces of the two men, whom he at once recognized as» Bill Brandon and the : Frenchman. The sight of the foreigner fairly took his breath, for he was the last person he ex to see on the train, since he had been confident that they had eluded the fellow in leav- ing Ringbolt. The conductor seized the iron rail and leaned down to lay hold of Brandon. At the moment the train, which was running at a high rate of speed, to make up a few minutes’ lost time, swung around a curve and darted across -a culvert spanning a creek. Brandon and his intended victim were flung against the side of the railing and then pitched headlong out into the darkness. : io Lord!”. exclaimed the conductor, “they’re off.” _ He made a spring for the signal line connect- -Ing with the engine and pulled it. A moment later came the whistle of “down brakes,” and the Speed of the train was checked. ' CHAPTER VL—On the Way to the Amazon. The whole thing had happened so quickly that Jack had barely recognized the sailor and the Frenchman when they vanished into the darkness. “My gracious!” he ejaculated, as soon as he got his breath, looking at the conductor, “do you : think they stand any chance of escaping with their lives? “Not one in a hundred,” was the reply. e 2 ae have stopped the train.” res.” “And you're going back to find out what has f them.” - “Yes,” replied the conductor, passing into the smoker and hurrying forward to the baggage ca ~ Jack went into the day coach, aroused Bill Nye, _ Who was asleep, and—told him what had hap- es jay Bill was paralyzed by the news. -Both boys went on the platform as the train backed toward the culvert at a slow pace. When it _-mearly reached tat point it came to a stop. The - ¢onductor and several train hands jumped off, a ; with lanterns, te look for the bodies of the men, for nobody expected to find either alive. The boys jumped off, too, and joined one of the train men. The sailor was found about a hundred yards west of the creek, near a thick bunch of bushes. He was quite dead, and was carried into the baggage car. The Frenchman was not to be found anywhere, It didn’t seem possible thal he could have escaped, and yet such must have been the case, else his body would have laia somewhere close to the sailor’s. The conductor and his men marvelled much at his disappear- ance. Even had he escaped with his life, he ought to be there somewhere. But he wasn’t, ‘though a thorough search of the immediate vicinity was made. At last the conductor ordered the engineer to proceed, and the train went on. The boys were allowed to finish the trip is the baggage car, as the sailor was their com- panion. “You’d better get hold of that chart, Jack,” said Bill Nye, as they sat watching the corpse. “When he’s sent to the morgue in Boston every- thing will be taken out of his pockets, and thes you may not be able to get it.” So Jack bent down and searched the inside pocket of Brandon’s jacket, where he knew the sailor carried the paper. The chart was not in it, nor was it in any of his other pockets. It was gone. : “He hasn’t got the chart, you say?” said Bill. “Why, where could it have gone?” - “I couldn’t tell you, though I strongly suspect that the Frenchman landed in the bushes and thus saved his life. He then looked around for Brandon, found his body, and stole the chart, thus at last accomplishing his purpose,” said Jack “it looks as though you are right,” said Bill “Well, I suppose we'll have to give up the treas- ure.” “Not at all. We have a facsimile copy of the chart, which is as good as the original. Since Brandon is out of it we’ll make the search our- selves.” : “Then you mean to go to the Amazon River?’ oS | do.” “But if the Frenchman really did escape, and has secured the chart, he and his friends ar¢ sure to get ahead of us.” : “They may and they may not. At any rate the game is worth the risk. Having made ug my mind to go after the treasure, I don’t intenc¢ to back out, and I hope you won’t, either, for } wouldn’t care to go without you.” ? “Oh, I'll go wherever you will,” said Bill. _ “That's right. If we get that treasure, we'l be fixed for life.” “It’s a pretty long shot, though.” “Americans are accustomed te take long shots when there’s big money in it.” “I suppose we'll follow our prearranged plan of shipping for Georgetown, or one of the othe two ports in the Guianas?” : “Sure. We haven't the funds to go there by a steamer. We'll make something in wages which will give us a further lift, for we'll pro! ably need all the coin we can rake togetiad Xe “Our American money won’t pass current dowt there. We'll bave to change it in Boston” == “Til look after that. While hunting for g —

Page 10

8 THE STOLEN CHART vessel to ship on we can make all necessary inguiries.” he conductor says we'll reach Boston about ” “That's a d time to get there. We'll look up a cheap A aiioa- tee and then attend to business.” “Who'd have thought Brandon would have been killed to-night?” said ‘Bill. “It seems only a few minutes ago he was talking to us in the ” car. “But who’d have thought that rascally French- man was on his trail in spite of all our precau- . tions in trying to give him the slip?” de ety toseret attee that aertul tumble trum lly esea) a e from the “nain, I eet Ee him almost more than human.” “Astonishing things do happen in the world. We read about them every day almost in the pers. I remember, for instance, of a man o climbed the famous Matterhorn mountain, @ stunt that did up scores of other ambitious ple. He came off with flying colors, and Became celebrated all over the world for the feat, ell, years afte: , when at home, he slipped stoop of his house and broke his neck, though he fell only a few feet. What do you think of that for curious luck? When he went the mountain, he had a dozen narrow esca of falling 8,000 or more feet, but he didn’t. There’s Steeple Jack, in New York, who takes all sorts of climbing chances, and hasn’t met with an accident yet. I guess he’s the — man they can find who will undertake the work of paint- he flag-poles at dizzy heights. I’ll bet he’ll never fall ouing it, but some day he may walk inté a coal hole in the or fal street car, and be carried to a hospital. The train reached Boston thirty minutes late, and the boys, provided with the address of a eap lod house, they got from a train hand, fort the depot. Putting up at a they went out to a cheap restaurant, and after the meal, started for the docks, not far away, to see what their chances were of wor their way te South America. After considerable investi- gation, they learned that the best chance of reaching the Guianas was te ship to the West Indies first. They found a large schooner at one of the wharves, which was unloading a cargo of fruit. She had come from Kingston, in emnwee, asd was going back there with a cargo 0 American staples and machinery. They applied to the mate, who sent them to interview the cap- tain. Jack gave him a yarn about the necessity of their okie their way to rgetown, and he to take them to Kingston if they would ask no wages. The boys consented to the arrangement, and were told to report on board three days later. They were quite tickled at having accomplished a part of their purpose, and spent the interval in making final preparations for the trip to the Amazon. Sate the proper time they appeared a e : CF he with Awd canvas bags containing their ess ions and were shown to the forecastle and Bh jotted berths. They donned rough suits and ess to turn in and work. se the boys, not being used to = = oe sew eee? r+ the schooner sailed for the life on the water, got seasick. as soon as the craft ran into rough weather, but they soon re- ae awe all the duty required of them, and finally landed with their property at King- ston. They went to a lodging place with a friendly sailor who had been one of their coms panions on board the schooner, and that very day shipped as ordinary seamen, at regulat wages, for Cayenne, French Guiana. 4 “We're lucky,” said Bill, as soon as Jack had made the arrangement with the skipper of the weather-beaten vessel they were to sail in. “That’s right, we are,” admitted his chum. “If our luck holds, we’ll soon see the Amazon.” As the -vessel was to sail at daylight next morning they went on board at once. They were t to work aloft scraping one of the yards. itting astride of the pole and facing one an- other, they sweated under the heat of the de- clining tropical sun. : “Geel this takes the starch out of a chap,” said Bill, wiping his face with his shirt sleeve. “I guess we'll find it hotter on the Amazon,” said Jack. “But we won’t have to work under it. We're going to sail up the river in our own craft, if we can hire one cheap enough for a month's cruise.” “T guess we won’t have any trouble about that. We only want a small sailboat—one large enough to carry our traps, sufficient food, and the wind- lass that we figured out we should need for hoisting the treasure chest out of the water.” They pg away till they had almost fin- ished their k when Bill, happening to look do uttered an exclamation. = t’s the matter?” asked Jack. “Look and see who’s on deck,” said Bill. Jack looked and uttered an exclamation, too. Talking to the captain was the rascally French- man who had followed Bill Brandon to his death. CHAPTER VII.—The Boys Take up a Mule Train. “The rascal is Side Fie! get a berth aboard this vessel, I guess, d Jack. “It will be kind of tough if we have to sail with him. ell recognize us the moment he meets us, and he'll suspect at once what has brought us down here. Then when we go ashore at Cayenne he'll watch us as close as he did the sailor, and there is no telling what the result will be.” “The captain is shaking his head,” said Bill. ia, means he doesn’t want the fellow’s serv- ces. In a few minutes the Frenchman went ashore, and the boys saw him aboard a craft on the other side of the wharf. Before he reappeared bow finished the job of scraping the foreyard, and descended to the deck. ere was nothing more for them to do, or at least they were not put at anything else for it was near supper time, So they lounged about on the forecastle until they were called to-get their grub. About the time they finished it night descended on the scene with tropical suddenness, and they retired to the fore- castle to turn in, as they expected to be routed out to duty at four o’clock next morning. When breakfast was served next morning the vessel : :

Page 11

THE STOLEN was several miles away from Jamaica, headed East by south across the Caribbean Sea. The trip to Cayenne was made under favorable con- ditions and the boys were’ not overworked. The other eee nate of the crew, who were mostly French and used that language among themselves, were well acquainted with Cayenne, and the boys, who had made themselves popular aboard, notwithstanding that they could not speak French, picked up a good deal of information of | ‘the place they were going to. When the vessel made fast to her wharf, the boys were paid off and discharged. The rest of the crew were paid off, too, for the craft belonged to Cayenne. Jack and Bill took their bags to the same lodging- house the crew went to, but they didn’t intend to stay in the town any longer than they could help, for they knew the French rasc2l would soon manage to get there. and they had no wish to run foul of him. Having told their shipmate that - their objective bg was the town of Macapa on e the Delta of Amazon River, one of them went with them along the water front to see if any craft was about sailing for that port. They found two small schooners that were going there, but the skippers had no need of any more hands, So they were disappointed in their expectations. That evening they learned that a mule convoy was about to leave Cayenne for Macapa over- land, a distance of about 500 miles, and the own- er was looking for some hands to make the trip with him. “How would you like to go that way?” Jack asked Bill. ; “T don’t know how I’d like it until I had some _ experience, but if the man will pay us a fair price ~and feed us decently, I’d just as soon try it as not. I’m sick of the water, anyway,” said Bill. _ “i think it’s a good chance, for if we wait for a chance to ship in a,small craft we may haye to wait some time,” said Jack. “Why don’t you call on the man and see what you can do with him. I'll go with you.” “All right. [ll speak to the landlord of this house.. He talks English as well as French and Spanish. He will be able to tell me where I can find the man.” Jack hunted up the landlord desired information from him. boys started out to see the party. ¢ quarters was at a depot of supplies on the main street. He was a dark-skinned name was Pierre Briquet. He could speak and secured the English first rate, and he received the boys po- “=. litely. When they stated their errand he ap- peared to be delighted, for he had experienced take about a month _ Was m ver the distance, Was n at a leisurely but steady pace. } engaged a a eee He said it would co Bring to- His head-. Frenchman, and © CHART $ town, taking in what sights there were to be seen. They made the acquaintance with the rest of the limited party the night before they start- ed. Briquet was to go along in charge, and be- sides Jack and Bill there were two natives of French Guiana, and a negro boy named Mose Johnson. Mose was tickled to death to meet the American boys for he hailed from the States himself, having been born in New Orleans. He could speak Trench, Spanish and English, and had been two years in South America. He told Jack that he had made the trip to Macapa and back several times, and knew the route like a book. The boys kind of cottoned to him, for even though he was a full-blooded negro he was a countryman of theirs, and there was a whole lot in that when one finds himself adrift like in a foreign land. “By golly! Dis yere is a mighty big ’sprise to dis chile to make de ’quaintance of yo’ two,” said Mose, with a grin which split his mouth almost from ear to ear. “I done hope dat yo’ will come back wif de train, too. De ole man ’Il treat yo’ well, an’ golly, I’ll do mos’ anyt’ing fo’ yo’.” «We'll think it over,” said Jack, who did not care to let on what business was takin ro and Bill to Macapa. All hands had just finished sup- per at the depot when Briquet was called outside to’ see a visitor. In a few minutes he returned with a stranger. As the newcomer came within the circle of light the boys nearly had a fit. It was the French rascal they had hoped to lose in the shuffle. Briquet announced that the new man was going with the party. “Gee! That settles it,” whispered Bill to his chum. P Z “Oh, I don’t know,” replied Jack. “I’m not a whole lot afraid of him. At = rate, now that we’re embarked in the treasure hunt ?m not go- ine to give it up without a struggle, bet your life.” Jack spoke resolutely, and his attitude had its influence with Bill. The Frenchman was intro- duced as Antoine Boutelle. As he glanced around the room in a shifty way his gaze lighted on the two boys. He recognized them at once and his surprise was evident. He stared at them for a moment or two to make sure he had made no mistake, then he went right up to them with the utmost ‘sangfroid. - “By gar, dees ees yon grand surprise,” he said, with a snaky look in his eyes. “Je suis ver’ glad to meet you.” “Sorry I can’t say the same, monsoo,” replied J = coolly. “Non? Est-ce que vous allez a Macapa? (Are you going to Macapa) ?” oer “Say, I don’t understand you. Why don’t you talk English? You can do it after a fashion, at any rate,” replied Jack. The an grinned in a wicked way. No understan’, eh? Quel dommage (what a pity)! You and your frien’ go wiz ze nm in ze morning, oui?” 5 ia , “Yes, we’re going, The Frenchman meant by the words used th ; "%

Page 12

10 feeling. I shake han’s wiz you. I haf nossing against you.” The Frenchman offered his hand and Jack took it as a matter of policy, not because he cared to make up with the rascal. Bill shook his hand too. “You are ze fine boy, both of you. vat you done wiz heem?” . : “You ought to know what became of him,” said Ze sailor, ack. “Je (1)!” exclaimed the rascal, with affected surprise. “Yes, you. Didn’t he and you tumble off the Boston night express together?” __ : “J see you know ze fac’s. Oui, ve took ze grand tumble. Dat was ze las’ I see heem.” Jack felt like telling him that he lied, but he didn’t. : . “The sailor was killed. How did you escape? “He vas keeled, eh?” grinned the Frenchman, ; as if he didn’t know. “Eet serve heem right. Pj make my escape wiz what you call ze skeen ; of my teet I fall in ze bush and dat safe me. Now, my frien’, you vill tell me vat. beesness brings you to dees country.” “Oh, we just came here,” said Jack. The Frenchman looked puzzled. s “You just came here—vat you mean by dat?” = “We came to see the country.” : = “Oh, dat ees eet?” said the rascal, with a wicked look. “You vill see heem wiz dees train. Eet ees five hundred mile to Macapa, ovair ze 2 plain and ze mountain, and through | ze forest. “g Ah, oui, you vill see heem ver’ much.” : e “I have no doubt but we will, monsoo. And now if it’s all the same to you my friend and myself will bid you good-night, as the train starts at sunrise,” said Jack, getting up. , The Frenchman looked after their retreating figures in no pleasant way. “By gar! wonder what brought those boys ~ to Cayenne and why they were going to Maca- , 2” he asked himself in French. “Macapa is on ; Amazon and = per the aie is _. several hundred miles up that river. e sailor pees ably told them all 5, es it, and maybe they eh Bt the can find it. Poof! It is impossible t the chart, and that I have possession of, They will find it a wildgoose chase. What fools = : these American boys are to come so far for noth- $5 “i walked over te one of the native men, who - was smoking his pipe near the door, and got into conversation with him. The boys had ceased to ‘Interest him. - ———_—-. CHAPTER VIII.—Treachery. and they found him a very SS ne es THE STOLEN CHART entertaining and friendly one. While the train was in motion, which it was most of the time between sunrise and sunset, excepting an inter- val of an hour at midday for dinner, the boys had very little communication, as they were many yards apart looking after half a dozen mules each. In some eases the train followed a regular road, at others a beaten path, and occasionally a mere trail. Briquet took the most direct route that experience had pointed out to him in order to save time, that is why they left the road so often and cut across the country. When they entered the forest they followed a well-defined path that saved several miles. When the sun set they were in the midst of the woods, making haste to reach a clearing where they would camp for the night. The more important meal of the day was eaten when the mules had been tethered for the night, after having been relieved of their bur- dens. Then a fire was lighted, meat cooked and coffee prepared. With the setting of the sun the darkness of night fell upon the forest. The train was temporarily stopped while lanterns were lighted and then the mules were started on again. Jack, Bill and Mose, in the order named, bossed the last eighteen mules. Antoine Boutelle, the French rascal, directed the six ahead of Jack, and the boy followed his flickering lanterns in the darkness, though he could occasienally see the lantern of the native ahead of Boutelle, as it winked among the trees. Briquet, the bess of the outfit, drove the first six mules himself on this occasion, because he was short of help on this trip. Heretofore it had been his custom to devcte his attention to overlooking the whole bunch, and taking things easy, as his position as owner entitled him to do. Usually Briquet es- corted pet Fy loaded mules on his trips— there were but forty-two this time, which showed that he was two men short. Briquet placed Mose in the rear because he put great dependence on the young negro, who was his most reliable assistant, and the longest in his ye A delay soon after the train en- tered the forest, owing to something that went wrong with Boutelle’s mules, was the cause of night overtaking the train some distance from the clearing, and Briquet’s orders, sent down the line when the lanterns were lighted, was to use the best speed forward. After a while Jack saw only Boutelle’s lanterns ahead. He sup- posed that the elghteen forward mules had gone on faster than the others and did not. think any- thing about the matter. All he had to do any- Way was to keep track of the first light ahead, i as it was Bill’s business to keep his lantern n view, and Mose’s to follow Bill’s. The truth of the matter was that Boutelle had turned off designedly into a by-path, knowing that those behind him would follow. Although he had claimed to know nothing about the route the _ train followed frem Cayenne to Macapa, alleg- ing that he was a stranger to the country out- side of the capital of French Guiana, the fact was he knew the whole district, and particularly _ the forest, much better even than Briquet him- — self; His purpose jn hiring out to the train owner | was not an honest one. He had friends and con~_ federates im the forest who were expecting hina 5 eo, ee eT eae ee 5) te a

Page 13

THE STOLEN CHART 11 Q om : to return from the States with the chart ‘of the - treasure of the cataract at any moment. Now one would have thought that’ the prospect of . capturing the treasure would have prevented the tricky Frenchman from going into such a side issue as the theft of the Sie borne by a por- tion of the mules of the train to which he had attached himself. The fact was,. however, that it was Boutelle’s nature to let nothing get by him. He saw the chance to get away with his own mules and the eighteen that. were following on behind, and he did not hesitate to grasp the opportunity, though he knew that in doing so he was leading the two American boys and the young negro into a an that was mica é to cost _ them their lives. But what did he care for them? What was the life of a human being more than the life of any animal, in his estimation? Noth- ing. Dead boys tell no tales, neither do mules, _ be -they alive or dead. So, as we have said, he - turned off into a by-path with which he was fa- _ miliar, and Jack naturally followed the flash of his lantern. Bill and Mose, of course, followed in their turn, and thus it came to pass that while the first eighteen mules pushed ahead toward the - elearing where the camp was to be pitched for \ the night, the other twenty-four followed a course that was every moment putting a wider distance - ¥etween the two sections. _ Jack wondered how icng it would take to reach the clearing. He was tired and hungry, and. :he ‘Same could be said of. Bill and Mose. The col- ored lad, however, knew that the clearing ought to be reached soon. Having been over the route so often he was able to make a pretty close cal- _ eulation of the distance, consequently when time passed and the mules continued to hustle ahead at the same speed, he began to feel puzzled. Then he began to notice that the ground was —s upward, which wasn’t right, in his opin- -ion. 2 “By golly, dar am somefin’ wrong,” he mut- tered. “Wels sshorely done got off’n de right .~ track, which am berry funny Marse Briquet _ know de right way wif his eyes shut.” Mose would have liked to have gone forward to make an investigation,,but he didn’t dare leave __ his mules to themselves. He could see two twin- ing lanterns ahead, and: sometimes a third one, was the one carried by Boutelle, and felt sendy reached the clearing, and j xt of his train sad got off the track somehow. He blamed ‘atel now for not placing Boutelle immedi- behind his own bunch, for remembering the ‘ofessed ignorance of the Frenchman, he con that Ire had gone astray accidentally. He _, Sent one of his men back to find the missing part tS the train, expecting he would not Ee much. trouble in | it. But, as the er will _ 8urmise, his effort was doomed to be in vain. _In the meantime, the rascally Frenchman con- tinded to ahead along the by-path, turn- and twi ang as it di ye rh soars rt e mountain range. . when Mose worked up over the situation, whith had decidedly unnatural to him, Boutelle made shining ahead, With an ejaculation. ,* £3 es ~ lg p> ESR Spy RS ee Recep) 25 FASS Hoi dt run; and after a few'minutes halted them in front of a small story-and-a-half house that stood like Singers shadow in a little clearing not much larger t an Was hecessary to accommodate it. Jack ran his mules up and halted them too. He supposed that this was the clearing they had been aiming for, and that Briquet and the other men were in the house, though from what he had understood there was no house atthe clearing where they were going to pass the night. Bill next came up with his mules, and lastly followed Mose. It took but a glance for the colored boy to see that they were not at the right spot. Never before had he come across a house of any kind in the forest, therefore it stood to reason that the train was off its route. Boutelle was knock- ing at the door of the habitation. The boys look- ed around and saw no signs of the other mules. “By golly, I wonder whar we’s got to,” said ose, 2 “Why, isn’t this the clearing where we are to stop for the night?” asked Jack. “Nebber on yo’ life it isn’t,” replied Mose. “I nebber seen this yere place afore.” - “Then why did we come this way unless the ‘boss has taken a new route?” “Whar am de rest ob de mules? Dey ain’t nowhar ‘bout. I reckon dat de fac’ am, dat Frenchman got off de track and fotched us out ob de way.” : : “Gee! That’s tough!” put in Bill. “I s’pose we don’t eat till we find our way to the right place.” At first no notice was taken of Boutelle’s knock, but at length a window was opened a lit- tle way and a rough voice asked who was there. Boutelle said something in a low tone in French and the man at the window uttered an exclama- ~ tion. “You are back at last,” he said in French. “Qui, oui; open the door,” returned Boutelle. The window was slammed shut and presently the door was opened. The light from a lamp shining out showed the bunch of mules and the three Sas well as Boutelle himself. _ “Ha! | it is this?” cried the man, in his na- tive tongue, looking suspiciously at the French- man. “You have companions with you.” Boutelle leaned forward and whispered in his ear. The other’s frown relaxed into a grin. “What a fellow you are, Boutelle!” he said. _ “Hush, Cuchard; the negro boy understands French, and his suspicions must not be aroused. The other two lads are Americans, and are igno- rant of the language. Where are Jaques and Rone hk ti fo ple of rab unting for a cou rabbits for sup- per. They should be here an the boys Thside.” ’ Merc asters “Madame Cuchard and Mariette are in good health, oui?” : “What did he say?” Jack asked “He sayed dat we am to go in de house,” re- tired plied Mose. “I reckon dat we ought’r VOY 3 ROR, ae hha ae r del meee Pa eS) | aii Alt ad»

Page 14

12 and go back de way dat we came. De boss will done have a fit ef we don’ turn up at de camp.” “How is it that we came here?” said Jack, stepping up to the Frenchman. “Did you miss the path somehow?” “Oui. I mees heem in ze dark. I make myse’f all meex up in dees forest, since I nevaire been m dees part of ze countree before. Comprenez- vous ?” “Yes, I understand you, but I can’t see how you did it, when you had Raymond’s lantern ahead to guide you.” “Ray-mond, oui; but all at one time I no see heem. Ze light he carree deesappear all of ze sudden, like ze candle vat go out, poof! I look hard but I no see heem any more. I keep on - believing dat I go quite right, but,” with a shrug of his shoulders, “you see ve come out of ze ay. Bet ees too bad, but I cannot help heem.” “How far out of the way have we come?” “How far? Mais, dat ees vat you call ze tom fool question. We are more or less as ze case eet may be. Howevair eet make no mattaire. Ve vill put up at.dees maison (house), and in ze ; morning ve finds ze vay to ze ozaire partee.” ¢ Jack and Bill had no objection to stopping at ; the house if they were assured of supper and a bed on the floor, but Mose was not of the same way of thinking. He stepped forward and put up an argument in French with Boptelle, insist- ing that they ought to retrace their steps. The Frenchman w angry over his attitude and said flatly that ws would not go back.. Mose felt that he had more right to boss the outfit than ay the foreigner, and said so, whereupon Boutelle seized him roughly by the arm and shoved him into the house. “You tie ze mule to ze tree and zen come in ze house,” said the Frenchman to Jack and Bill. “Ve haf suppaire presentlee, and zen yous’ll go - to bed as soon as you wish.” With these words he turned on his heel and en- tered the house, leaving Jack and his chum to secure the bunch of mules. —_—__ « - HAPTER IX.—Signs of Danger. now _stood shelf above an open fireplace wh ; 2 = egy old woman, whom the. boys learned os was Madame Cuchard, the wife of the man - who had extended his hospitality to the party, was ing to certain culinary duties. Bou- telle and Cuchard were seated on stools talking meee * low terre hae — pore a uncomfortable, occupied another stool at the other side of the room. The men looked at the boys f the house was and pine, him. e you lo ng _ “We aren't so badly off. We've a heads and the prospects of sup- bench without a : Mose?” THE STOLEN CHART o per. In the morning, when it is light again, well be able to rejoin thé boss.” “Dat’s all bery well, but t’ings doan’.look jes’ right hyar. I’s got my ’spicions dat dese yere people ain’t no better dan dey ought to be.” “How?” “Look at dat feller dat am ’sposed to be de -boss ob dis shanty. His name am Cachard. He doan’ look honest. Look at dat wife ob his ober by de fire. I neber seen sich a wicked-lookin’ ting in all my born days. I ’spects she’d tink not’in ob cuttin’ a man’s t’roat ef she cought dar Was money in it.” “Nonsense, Mose. here.” “Dar ain’t no nonsense *bout it, Marse Jack. Yo’ mark my words, we am in bad ’dicament. I doan’ believe dat we eber seen de boss no more.” “Pshaw! what’s the use of talking like that? J thought you had more sand.” “I ain’t no coward, Marse Jack, but I tole yo’ dat we is trapped.” “Trapped!” exclaimed Jack. “Dat’s it. We ain’t got no more show to sabe ourse‘fs dan a li’le piccanniny.” Mose spoke in a tone of conviction, and Jack and Bill hardly knew what to make out of his statements. They could not but admit that the looks of Couchard and his wife were not encour- aging. The fact that the former was apparently on good terms with Boutelle did not reassure them, as they both regarded the Frenchman as a double-dyed rascal. : : “What do you think, Bill?” said Jack. “J don’t know. I don’t fancy the people of the house.” “They don’t look like angels, I'll admit.” “I should say not. Suppose they rob you of that money you brought to get our outfit with at Macapa, where would we be?” “We'd be in the soup, Bill; but we’ve got our guns with us, thank goodness. If an I guess we’re safe enough holes.” “They might drug us at supper,” said Bill. “Then we'd better not drink anything.” At that moment voices were heard,on the out- side. Boutelle started up and said something to .Couchard. Couchard nodded and rose to his feet. He walked over to the boys. ; y tries - to get that money from me, I'll fill him full of : “Follow me,” he said curtly, in fair English. - “J will take you to your room, where you can rest a while until supper is ready. You are in the way here.” He laid his hands on Jack’s shoulder, and the boy took the hint. Couchard led the boys into a narrow entry and up a flight of stairs to a land- ing as black as the ace of spades. He threw open . an invisible door communicating with a low- 2 ‘cejled rgom. | ; : I will return in a moment with a “Enter. light,” he said. The boys went in and stood close together. “This looks as if there was something on down- ae and they wanted to get rid of us,” said ‘ack. . © “J guess so,” replied Bill. “De day ob tribulation am at hand, I’s ‘feared,” said Mose. in a lugubrious tone. “I ‘spects we doan’ get no supper, but dat we is put out ob de - way oe tS ee ee

Page 15

iit THE -STOLEN CHART 13 ly Jack put his hand behind him and pulled out ; his revolver. “Feel that, Mose. There’s six bullets in that and I’ve got a belt full of cartridges around my waist. Bill is similarly provided. Somebody will oma pretty bad who tries to do us up,” said “Golly, I’s glad dat yo’ fellers has got somefin’ to defend yo’se’s wif’. I wish dat I had a gun. Yo’ bet yo’ life I’d shoot mighty quick,” said Mose. “Never mind; we’ll defend you,” said Bill. The sound of Cuchard’s returning footsteps caused Jack to put away his gun, and a moment later the Frenchman entered the room with a small, smoky lamp, which he placed on a shelf. “When supper is ready I will call you,” +he said. Then he went away. “Well, fellow unfortunates, I can’t say that I like the complexion of matters,” said Jack. “I don’t believe that Boutelle is really a stranger to the people of this house. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is hand-and-glove with them.” “That’s my opinion,” said Bill; “and further, I believe that he brought us and the mules this " ‘way on purpose. It’s all rot for him to pretend that he loSt sight of Raymond’s lantern. I never once lost sight of yours.” “Nor did I lose sight of the Frenchman’s. You and Mose are both right. We are the victims of a piece of rascality. Probably the object is to steal the goods carried by the two dozen mules, as well as the mules themselves. As for our- selves, it may not be unlikely that they mean to do us to prevent our appearing as witnesses against them,” said Jack. - Then I think the best think we can do is to try to get away on the quiet,” said Bill: “Yon- der window might enable us to take French leave. Once outside, they never could find us in _ ~the darkness.” pes “You take a squint out of the window and see ~~ what you can make of the chances, I'll sneak <* S- gia and see what I can find out,” said He slipped off his shoes and left the room. Groping his way in the darkness to the stairs, he slipped down to the entry. The door into the living-room was shut tight, but it did not cut off * the sounds that came from there. Jack heard the ~~ voices of several men, jabbering away at a great ; - Yate in French. Clearly there had been new ar- _ Tivals.. The boy didn’t understand a word they Said, a contingeney he had overlooked in coming downstairs. He ought to have sent Mose. Look- ing through the keyhole, he saw Cuchard and - two villainous-looking chaps talking to Boutelle, “who appeared to be hail-fellow-well-met with them, which confirmed Jack’s idea that the Frenchman was no stranger to the house. eS if I only understood French!” breathed - But he didn’t, so what was the use of lament- ing his inability to do so? He could learn noth- ing from the jargon he heard, so he hastened back to the room. 3 : “Well, what did you find out?” asked Bill. ‘ou wasn’t long.” , —— a wai tn te * PP es Mose down. He'll understand them,” said ill, “Will you sneak down, Mose?” said Jack. “You must be careful not to make any noise. Grope your way to the stairs, or, better, I'll hold the light for you. Take in What you hear and come back as soon as you can.” = “Golly, I’s afeard dey’ll nab me. If dey done cotched me listenin’ I reckon dat dis nigger would cotch somefin’ more dan a flea in him ear,” said Mose. “Haven't you got the nerve to go?” said Jack. “Our lives may depend on you finding out what they intend to do with us.” id “T's a-gwine. Ef I doan’ come back yo’ can reckon dat I’s been turned into a black angel wid an ebony harp.” : “Hold on, don’t go that way. Kick off your shoes. Now don’t stumble over yourself. lll hold the light for you.” Jack took down the lamp and flung open the door. Standing on the threshold was a lovely girl of seventeen, with an olive complexion, eyes that shone like twin-stars, and a figure that was perfection itself. It was hard to say which was the most surprised—Jack or the girl herself. CHAPTER X.—Jack’s Sharp Trick. The girl uttered an exclamation and then put her finger to her lips. With a quick glance over her shoulder she entered the room a step or two. “Parlez-vous francais?” she asked, in a whis- per. Jack shook his head and pointed to Mose. “Then-you speak Eengleesh?” she added. “Yes,” said Jack eagerly. “Listen. You are in great danger eef you re- main in this house,” “So I suspected,” replied Jack. “No one that come here ever goes away again alive.” “Then what chance have we of getting away.?” “There is a way that I will show you.” “All right. We'll be greatly obliged to you if = you do. We are ready to go with you.” - “Not now. Eet is impossible. By and by af- ae ter you have eaten and return to this room I ~ will come and show you the way.” “Then we are safe for the present?” Egil “Oui. But do not drink of the coffee Madame . Cuchard will give you. Eet will be drugged. Spill eet out some way that they do not notice. — Then you will be safe. They expect that you will go to bed after ssepes, and some time in the - night they will come here to kill you. But I will see that you escape ef I am not prevented.” — “Miss, our gratitude will always be yours; but how is it that one so good as you consents to stay in this house?” < ’ “Alas! I am in the power of Jules Cuchard, who is my stepfather. He brought me here from 2, and I cannot escape from heem, thous Z I a do be” she es with a sigh, “Why with us? We rotect spe with our lives,” said Jack. . = ; Se “Non, non; eet is impossible!” sat cic “Not so if you will consent to put yourself

Page 16

14 der our protection. No true gS American boy would desert a girl in distress.” “Ah, you Americans are brave, but eet is too much to ask of you. i would embarrass you with my presence.” : “Not by a, jugful. ‘You come with us and [ll od gs that you” get ‘away from these rascally peo- e.” “Hush! Some one is coming. I must go.” Z ~ She vanished into the darkness like a shadow as a man came upstairs. The man proved'to be =f Boutelle. ‘« How you all feel, eh?” he said, standing at _~ ° the door and looking at the boys with one of his wicked rms “We: feel “with our fingers, monsoo,” replied = Jack, not really intending to be funny, but be- Ss cause the words came into his mouth. ‘ “You feel with your fingaire,” = Frenchman. “Vat ansaire you call dat? You = feel wiz your whole bodee. Non, I meari you feel rs wiz your sto-mack. Ees eet not. so? ou s’all : be hongree by dees time, oui?” : ~ ee “Aren’t you? “Ve haf” on ze table ze soopaife dees minute. I do you ze honaire to make of myse’f ze part of ze garcon.\ I escalade ze stair for your bene- feet. Come, follow me down to ze room below gnd eat your fill.” ' “All right,” said Jack, “Remember, drink - telle walked toward the Stairs. '_ They found the table laid out with food when _ they followed the Frenchman below and Boutelle introduced them to the other men, whom he call- ed Jaques and ae The boys were given seats together, ere helped to a fragrant “stew, the smell of eee 5 made their mouths wa- ter in advance. The bread was dark colored and ‘not over-fresh, and the butter pretty bad, but the boys were not disposed to find fault with > either.” Two bottles of claret stood on the table, E __. to’ which the- men’ helped themselves liberally. _-« “Over at a kind of sideboard Madame Cuchard was ; Seas out the coffee. ; Phos like ze vin ordinaire?” Sd 2 asked wanted, be eve ‘they Pre - quenched vith. she claret. Not b accus- claret was rather weak sents time the madame passed fee soa Then it was that ide, : ye ee he eee know , how “He cudgelied hig trait rica a Lo Fa wh 2 tion ~~ THE STOLEN replied the’ ~ nothing,” he whispered to Bill and Mose, as Bou- ~ ee sparkle and their spir-— CHART “Vat ees ze mattar wiz you?” exclaimed Bou- telle. “Open the door. There is Monsoo Briquet at the window looking in.” Boutelle uttered an exclamation of -consterna- tion and looked, but he could not see any face at the window. He said something quivkly in irench to-the others. Cuchard rose, went to the shelf, and put out the light. The other three got up and started for the door. Jack’s heart gave a great thump. His ruse had suceeeded better than he had expected. He got up and with great caution substituted the three cups of coffee set before himself and his friends for the cups placed in front of Cuchard, Jaques and Claude. — With Boutelle’s he could ‘do nothing. Then he whis- pered to Bill what he had done, and Bill the’ information to Mose. In the meanwhile the rascals were waiting for the expected knock on . the door, but it did not come. Finally Cuchard ventured to unbolt the door and look out. There was no one outside as far as he could see. The men listened intently, but no sound greeted their ears. “The boy must have heck mistaken,” chard. Having been satisfied that their alarm was groundless, they rebolted the door, turned up the light and returned to the table. “By gar! See vat trouble you haf give us for nossing,” said Boutelle to Jack. vat you call ze bats in ze belfry. You s’ink you see vat ees not zere. Make haste now and drink up your cafe and take yourse’fs off to your room. In ze morning ve start wiz ze sun.” The boys felt it was safe to drink of the chang- ed coffee, which they did, though it had no milk in it and was not to their liking. Had it been as bitter as gall, they would have got away with it somehow, in order not to arouse the men’s suspicions. The others drank their coffee too. “Now you babes in ze vood get ze move on,” grinned Bouielle, looking at the lads. 4 Without a word they left the table, followed to the door by the Frenchman, who wished. to assure himself that they went upstairs. “Gee! but that was a bang-up trick of yo’ Jack!” eyied Bill admiringly, when the haa re turned to their room. oThree out of four of said Cu- . those raseals will be drug sig gree instead of us, and we'll have an easy time of it in making our es- cape.” “Tt hope so. With only Boutelle and the old woman to cope with » I guess we need not fear,” _ said Jack. “Golly, yo’ am de limit, Marse Jack. After dis I swear by yo’ ebery time, shore’s yo’ born,” said Mose, with a wide grin. “Ym going to turn out the light,” said Jack; “then. we'll wait SF aa the the way, Bill, did you look at the window?” a “¥- did. It’s nailed up, with boards on the out- side, Escape that. way” is out of the qin, : ‘replied Bill, “ “Well, I. guess it won't “matter,” said Jack, pak and they waited for. a turning: down the lamp; Th mes 0 the door the next act in the melodrama, era ee ee er ee passed ; “You mus’ have -~ : pl Pe By

Page 17

> ¢ THE STOLEN CHART CHAPTER XI.—On the Amazon, cg cig happened for about twenty minutes, and the boys passed their time in guarded con- versation. Then they heard light footsteps on the landing. “It’s the girl,” whispered Jack. A shadow came toward the open door. “Is that yeu, miss?” asked Jack. “Qui,” replied the girl, in a whisper. “Are you ready?” “Bet your life we are!”_ “Then follow me.” Just then the door below opened.and the voices of Boutelle and Madame Cuchard were heard. “Hush!” whispered the girl. They could all hear the words that were ut- tered, but only Mose and the girl unde them. The madame and Boutelle were talking over the strange thing that had happened to the _ three men. “{ tell you that you must have made a mistake and instead of giving the dosed coffee to the boys you gave it to your husband and Jaques and Claude. What kind of a fool are you, any- way?” said the Frenchman. “No, no, I make no mistake,” she protested. “But the men are drugged. Can’t you see that?” . “I see, and I do not understand.” “You're too thickheaded to understand what is as clear as sunshine. Well, perhaps it won’t mat- ter. The boys are tired and probably are aslee now. Do you come upstairs with me, You sh help me make a clean job of them.” Mose translated their conversation to his com- panions. “So they are coming up to put us out of the way,” said Jack. “We have got to take the bull the horns. [’ll look after the Frenchman, ou take the woman, Bill, and you, Mose, stand ready to help either of us out. t out your gun, Bill, and give the madame a rap on her nut. I'll + ea = on = é> _ ta a what is your name?” do the same for the Frenchman. The coast will then be clear for our escape, and we'll take the young lady with us.” Hardly had he finished speaking when the stairs began to creak under the tread of the Frenchman and the woman. The boys waited for them inside of the door. Boutelle appeared first. “The light is out,” he said in French. “They are asleep. The job will be easy. You take the right hand bed, Madame Cuchard, and I'll take the left hand one. Clap your hand over the boy’s mouth and then strike.” : They ste into the room, bent on their mur- derous work, and then Jack and Bill raised the butts of their revolvers. Thud! Thud! The would-be assassins dropped without a cry and jay still on the floor. 3 “Light the lamp, Mose,” said Jack. In a moment the light showed the young Amer- fcans. that their work had been sure and com- plete. The girl, who understood what had hap- pened, appeared at the door. “Well, young lady, we are boss of the coop .” said Jack triumphantly. “By the way, ” 4 Jack introduced himself and his friends month. 16 “You have some rope fn the house, haven’t you, Miss Castaing ?” a “Oui. Plenty.” “Fetch a couple of pieces so we can tie the madame and this rascal.” The girl- went to get it. Jack knelt beside Bou- telle and searched his pockets. From an inner one he drew forth the sailor’s chart. “I knew the rascal stole it from Brandon’s dead body. He won’t get the chance to steal it from mé,” he said. ; Mariette brought the rope, and with it they tied the man and woman tightly back te back. “T’ll bet it will puzzle them to free them- selves,” said Jack. “Now let’s downstairs.” They found the three men below sprawled out over the table from which the dishes had been removed. They were safe enough for all night at least. Remembering the mules, Jack said they ou to be fed. As each mule carried its own fodder in addition to its load of goods, the boys got a couple of lanterns and proceeded to feed and water them. “Now get your traps together, Miss Castaing, and we will be off,” said Jack. Half an hour later they were trying to find their way back to the path that led to the camp, under the guidance of Mose. In twenty minutes they saw the flickering of a pair of lanterns ahead. The lanterns were carried by Briquet and Raymond, who were searching for the missing mules and their drivers. The shouts of the boys were answered, and all hands came together. It was a thrilling story Jack had to tell Briquet, and the boss was staggered by the Frenchman’s treachery. He complimented Jack on the part he had taken in the night’s adventure, and assured ~ him he would reward his services when they reached Macapa. As soon as they reached their camp, a blanket was handed to Mariette, and.she was made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. At sunrise the mule train went on, and reached Macapa two weeks later without further inci- dent. Briquet paid the boys their wages, and gave Jack $100 in addition. He wanted the boys to return with him. As he was going to remain a month in the town, Jack said it was possible they might join him if they got back from their trip up the Amazon in time. He said that he aa Bill were going to hire a boat for a sail up the river. Mose wanted to go with them, and they agreed to take him. Mariette was anxious to get back to France, but was afraid her step- father would find her in Macapa and take her back. So Jack decided to take her along with them if she would go. She gladly a to do it, for she had the utmost confidence in the boy. Looking around the water front, Jack found a sloop for hire and chartered it for a He bought enough provisions to last for that time and stowed them in the hold. There was a stove and cooking utensils on the vessel and Mariette volunteered to act as cook ane- stewardess. After some trouble Jack -rented the. use of a windlass and a big coil of stout ro He bought other things that he thought he might __ need in his treasure expedition, and then every-— thing being shipshape for the trip, they went = aboard the sloop early one morning, ca the wharf, and setting sail, stead lay their course

Page 18

16 up the river. They had five hundred miles of water to pass over before they would strike the town of Serpa, which, according to the chart, was twenty-five miles east of the cataract. Their would largely depend on the strength and ion of the wind. It was now that the knowledge the two young Americans had -gained aboard the two vessels » _they had sailed in came into play. They were easily able to handle the sloop under all condi- / tions, though, as a matter of fact, it was not a ; difficult task to sail a small fore-and-aft vessel up a river, where they were not likely to meet with anything more serious than a thunder-storm. During the first week they met a great’ many small craft, some of native construction, coming down from various towns and villages along ot either bank. They also passed quite a number of : lumbering craft gcing up that were slower than molasses. But the farther they progressed the fewer vessels they can~ in contact with- The aspect of the river itself, however, remained much the same. The villages on the banks -were ; few and far between. The landscape sometimes ‘ looked fertile and at other times rather barren. The weather was so hot that all hands, including Py was kept continually spread to shield them in : daytime from the sun. At Macapa the boys had = added a couple of Remingtdén rifles to their - armament, though they were not sure that they would be needed, and also a small brass cannon, ‘about two feet long, which Jack had picked up for a song, intending to take it to the States with him if things came his way. _ — *Phis is a great river,” said Bill one afternoon, as the sloop, for lack of wind, was hardly making any progress toward the goal of their thoughts : and hopes. ; = “Yes; when I went to school my geography said that the Amazon was the king of rivers. =. . “How long is it?” ~ : ee “Why, it practically runs vlear across this part “ef South America.” : - *Jt is 4,000 miles long,” put in Mariette, who pore seemed to be well informed on the subject. By this time both Mose and Mariette had been - @ taken into Jack and Bill’s confidence with re- _. speet to the treasure of the cataract, and they ‘Were just as interested as the young Americans about it. Both were promised a small share of the treasure if it was secured, and that naturally added to the zest with which they looked forward to its recovery from its secret hiding place. CHAPTER XII.—A Storm on the River. me ‘One day when about three-quarters of their had been slowly reeled off, for they were delayed by light winds and often no wind at all, the sloop was duteting: along with the tide in a E abad oto, the sky began to grow dark and threatening. | afeuail “We're in er venga sane Bill, as am sat aroun open cockp ean. in front of the door beading into cabin that was as stuffy a hole Mariette, slept on deck under the awning that _ THE STOLEN CHART : ra endurable in so hot a climate as northern Bra- zil, four degrees below the equator. ““Tt behooves us to lower and secure our sai I should say,” said Jack, “for if a™heavy win comes on we are liable to be driven ashore some- where along the banks, and it might be impos- sible for us to get off until some craft came along and pulled us off.” Accordingly the three boys stepped up on deck and first of all lowered the mainsail, which hung as limp as a stiff rag. It was secured to the boom and then they partially let down the jib, taking about three reefs in it. It was neces- sary to have a small amount of sail left ex- posed, even in a heavy blow, in order to be able to control the sloop, otherwise she would be at the mercy of the wind and_in danger of going ashore anyway. The sky grew darker and dark-. er, and flashes of lightning blazed through the clouds, followed by rumbling thunder. The awn- ing was unshipped, rolled up and taken into the cabin, lest it be blown away, though so far there was not a breath of wind stirring. The heat was stifling, in excess of anything’they had as-yet experienced. The four people of the sloop ac- tually gasped for berath, for they seemed to be in a great heated furnace. The river lay like a sheet of glass, and the trees on the banks dreoped like stricken yegetation. “T wish it would start in if it’s going to come,” said Bill. “A storm of wind and rain would be better than this. I feel as if I were melting away to a grease spot.” “By golly, ef dis nigger melts he’ll leabe a black spot, ya, ya, ya!” laughed Mose. The clouds sank lower, or appeared to do so, and rolled themselves into terrifying shapes, like fantastic masses of leaden-colored soot. Through them darted the streaks of lightning, each elec- trical display succeeded by claps of thunder that_ grew louder each time. Still no wind and the ~ heat was something awful. Mose began show- ing symptoms of fear. The look of the sky was So unnatural that it struck him that the world was about to,come to an end. : “Lordy, I’s a wicked nigger, I is. Doan’ too me away sudden like. I’s afeard to die, ’clar to goodness [ is,” exclaimed the colored boy, after 2 brilliant flash and a tremendous clap of thun- er. : The others didn’t feel like laughing at the ex-. hibition of terror on his part. Truth to tell, they were not unconcerned themselves. Cy fearful aspect of the sky, the like of which they had never witnessed before in a thunder storm and which put one in mind of some scene out of Dante’s Inferno, had its effect on them. It really seemed as if thoge lurid smoke-colored clouds were steadily sinking and closing in around the sloop, the river and the landscape to, smother everything in sight. : “Oh, golly, we’s done for, we shorely is,” said Mose, with chattering teeth and wildly rollin eyeballs. “De Day ob Judgment am at h: ; and dis nigger ain’t ready to stand afore de | golden throne and be hauled ober de coals for all his wickumness. De ole Nick am ridin’ on dem clouds, and he'll pick dis yere coon up wid him pitchfork as he goes by. Oh, terrible sinner. Gib me anudder—— - With a yell of terror Mose pitched headfore- Lordy, rs az —_—e ee we) |

Page 19

wr en” o] Pas - hook, —, the imp =) = ~~ s Bi 7 6 As Tee ashore. At this A 6 juncture a low-browed native Brazilian-suddenly appeared from a bunch of bushes. most into the cabin. The other three stared with blanched faces at each other. Mariette clung to Jack, as tho he were her only rock of refuge in sight. Jack and Bill tried to be brave, but it was a pay Atort. They would have faced a g of s bent on taking their lives with ar more pluck. Now a moaning hum came through the air. . “The wind is coming,” said Jack. “And the rain, too,” said Bill, pointing across the river. “Get into the cabin, Mariette,” said Jack. “But you are coming, too,” she said earnestly. “Yes, yes, presently.” A heavy puff of wind careened the sloop over * a bit and then died away. The direction of the wind was indicated and Jack got up and seized the helm. Another heavier puff followed, and Jack moved the rudder so as to bring the sloop’s head in line with it, which was directly across the river. Then with a roar the full force of the storm, rain and all, came upon them. In a moment or two the boys were soaked to the skin. Bill slammed the cabin door halfway shut to keep out the water, though the rain did not beat into it. The sloop was carried sternward straight to- ward the mouth of a tributary stream of the Amazon, end in an incredibly brief time was out of the main river. Both boys had to cling to the tiller on either side with all their weight to prevent the craft from veering around and pre- senting her broadside to the storm, which would _ have resulted in her immediately capsizing. Had, she been headed the other way, with the wind, no such danger would have presented itself, for then the partly exposed jib would have come in proper play. Now the canvas was a menace in- stead of an advantage. There was every danger of going ashore on the narrow stream they had entered, but fortunately -it was straight, and in line with the wind. Thus passed a full hour, by which time the sloop was several miles from the _ Amazon proper, and then the storm abated al- most as suddenly as it came on. The fearful- looking clouds-had passed away to the north, leaving the sky with an ordinary leaden look, and the landscape open as far as the eye could reach. “Gee! I’m glad it’s over, though I feel a whole lot cooler after it,” said Bill. ~ ao“ Et a corker as long as it lasted,” said Jack.. “We made a mistake in heading the craft - into the wind. We ought to have let hey run before it. I’m afraid we are bum navigators, after ‘The sloop was close in to a bight in the river bank J t . ack turned her around so as to control of her and ent them from go a tongue of verdure ran out into the river. As the sloop came about, her nose grazed the point, but as she forged a iy pe he came forward. More men then popped up him. : “Take a boat-hook and push her off, Bill,” said Jack, Bill jumped on the deck, picked up the boat- % and went forward. “rabbing the point of lement into the soil, he pushed against it. The boat moved a Itttle, but not much. At that THE STOLEN CHART 17 _ “You take me on board?” he asked in Spanish, as he came forward, more men rising up behind Bill didn’t understand him and shook his head. The negro boy stuck.his head out of the cabin door. Jack pointed to the men. “Those chaps want something. See if you can understand them,” he said. Mose came into the cockpit. “What do you want?” he asked in Spanish. “We want to come aboard,” replied the first man. “They want you to take them aboard,” said Mose to Jack. “Tell them they can’t come. That we aren’t taking any passengers,” said Jack. Mose repeated Jack’s words in Spanish. “We only want to go to the nearest village,” the fellow said. - Mose translated to Jack: “Tell them we're not stopping any place along the river,” said J “We're going to come on board anyway wheth- er you like it or not,” said the man, when Mose told them what Jack said. boat-hook the first rascal ht hold of it and was drawn splashing into the ow water after the retreating sloop. “Let go!” roared Bill, trying to shake the fel- - 8 ow off. - The fellow’s companion rushed after him and seized him around the waist. Their united ‘strength stopped the sloop momentarily, and then ned out in among the reeds. the second man nearly up to his st and ing out, seized the heel of the bowsprit. Jack ran forward, re- volver in hand, to put an end to the affar. “Let go or I'll ‘shoot you!” he cried, pointing his weapon. The fellow didn’t understand his words, but his action was plain enough. He glared at Jack and hesitated. At this crisis in affairs an entirely new actor appeared on the scene and settled the difficulty in short order. An alligator darted out of the thick reeds a few yards away, and in quicker time than we can describe it, seized the rascal’s thighs in his ponderous jaws and backed away. The fellow uttered a blood-curdling ye'l as, relaxing his hold on the sloop, he was drag- ged down into the water. His companion gave a yell too, let go of the boat-hook, and retreated out of the water as fast as he could go. A pult of wind swung the boat’s head Teeaealt bec the en- Sanguined water, and she shot away from the spot. By this time the alligator and its victim had disappeared among the reeds, the other man had vanished into the bushes, and nothing re — mained to tell of the tragedy which had been en- acted before the eyes of the three startled boys. CHAPTER XIII.—tTreasure of the Cataract It was some little time before the boys recov- ered from the sight, and Jack was ve Ty 7 that Mariette had not witnessed it. About the —

Page 20

18 SS middle of the third week they sighted Serpa. Their calculations as to the time it would take them to come up the river, get the treasure and return, were clearly way off. Their provisions wouldn’t begin to last, but fortunately they would be able to purchase as much more at Serpa as they would require. They put in at a small wharf at the village, and Mose was deputed to buy fresh vegetables and other food. They re- mained a couple of hours at the village and then resumed their course up the river. When night closed in the sky was so bright and the atmos- phere so clear, that they could easily see the character of the shore as they sailed along. It was about ten o’clock that they opened up a ‘small river on their left, which they judged to be the one they were in search of. Jack steered into it, and found the stream exceedingly rapid. ‘What with the light wind not in their favor and partly shut off by many trees along the banks, and the swift downpour of the narrow river, they hardly made any progress at all. “It’s time to turn in, anyway,” said Jack. “We'll moor the sloop to the bank, and to guard against any trouble from prowlers, we'll stand a regular watch, each of us in turn, from now till sunrise.” Bill watched till half-past two, and then call- ed Jack. “I might have been asleep for all the good my watching did,” said Bill. “Well, that may be, but you never can tell what might happen. We can’t afford to take any — chances,” replied Jack. ea Nothing happened during Jack’s watch, which . lasted the rest of the night. At breakfast Jack ; said ke had decided to proceed the rest of the 2 ee way to the cataract on foot, with Mose for- his a companion, as there was no wind that morning to we - help the sloop against the strong current. = . “You remain on board with Mariette,” said Jack to Bill. “I don’t believe the cataract is far away. The swiftness of the stream indicates that we are on the right track. [I trust that by to-morrow, at any rate, we’ll have the treasure in the hold, ready to make tracks back for Ma- Pad ” _ After breakfast, with a rifle each, Jack and Mose went ashore and started up the left bank of the stream. Jack carried the chart with him to identify the spot where the treasure lay. The ; ground was more or less obstructed by boulders, trees and bushes. Coming out of a bunch of the latter, they came face to face with a South Amer- “jean cayuse, or mule, feeding on the grass. He had a stout halter around his neck, the slack end of which showed that it had given way under a - strain from a lomger piece of rope. ; “By golly, here am a mule. [ reckum dat dis chile am gwine to hab a ride,” said Mose. _ Jack thought the colored boy’s chance of a ~ vide was doubtful, but he was wrong. The cay- sage made no effort to get away, and permitted BS -_ Mose to get on his back. The mule got a move 3 a. he and Mose disappeared at a slow trot a5 . Jack followed, and for some time heard nothing more from the colored lad. At last he him and the eayuse standing on top of a g rock ahead. When Mose saw Jack coming on i is hat and pointed downward toward ter. -As Jack drew closer the rushing THE STOLEN CHART sound -of the water grew louder, and presently the cataract burst full on his sight. Mose rode his cayuse down, but made no attempt to get off. He watched Jack make his investigations. The landmarks all agreed with the chart, and the spot where the treasure was supposed to be was right under the big rock, which was hollowed inward close to the water. Having found out all he could, Jack and Mose, the latter still on the cayuse, started back for the sloop, where they duly arrived. Bill and Mariette were surprised to see Mose provided with an animal. “Well, how did you make out, Jack?” asked Bill. “Did you find the cataract?” “Bet your life I found it, and located all the ~ landmarks, according to the chart. The treasure should be found oe the big rock.” “How far is the cataract from here?” “About half or three-quarters of a mile.” “How close can we get the sloop to it?” “Perhaps a quarter of a mile, maybe more if the wind was strong enough and in the right quarter. At present there is no wind, so we can’t take her any closer.” The boys were so anxious to get at the treas- ure that they couldn’t wait for a wind to take the sloop closer to the cataract. They decided to leave the craft in Mariette’s care, and Jack handed her one of the rifles for her protection ~ in case of need, - “T don’t believe you will be molested, for this neighborhood appears to be entirely deserted, but if you should be, discharge the gun. We'll hear , the report and will rush back at once,” said Jack. Getting out the long rope, they had provided for hauling the box out of the water, and tying it to the cayuse’s back, the three boys started for hips cin In due time they reached he big rock. “One of us will have to dive under that rock,” said Bill, “to see where the treasure box is, and to attach the rope to it.” “That’s up to me,” said Jack. “I’m going to tie an end of the rope around my waist, for the current is so strong that it would carry me away without such a protection. You chaps will hold on to the rope and look out for me.” *As the boys wore very little clothing in that latitude, Jack intended to dive just as he was, his shoes excepted. They went up to the top of the big rock with the rope, one end of which Jack tied securely around his waist, then; after kick- ing off his shoes, he told his companions to lower him down over the edge of the rock to the water. This was done. As soon as Jack’s body was pereey. in the stream the swing of the current carried him in under the rock and against a sort of platform on which he secured a foothold. Staring him in the face, in a hole in the rock, on a level with the water, he saw an iron box the projecting end having a stout handle aatek to the chest, : “The treasure box!” ejaculated Jack, tickled to death at the sight of it. “Bill and I will surely be rich when we get this to the sloop.” He had fetched the other end of the rope down with him to tie to the box when he found it and this he proceeded to do without delay. He tied a half dozen knots to make sure that it would _ hold, for the box was undoubtedly weighty. Then —

Page 21

THE STOLEN CHART he jumped into the water, and the current car- ‘ried him out in sight of his frien He signalled - for them to pull him up, and they did so at once. ’ “T’ve found the treasure box,” he said, as soon ‘as he landed on top of the rock. : : “You have? Fine and dandy!” cried Bill, smil- _— ing all over his face. '” “And I tied the end of the rope to it. Now we'll cut the rope in half, and hitch the end to the mule, and see if he can drag it out of the “hole and up high enough for us to throw the other piece of rope around it and swing it in on the rocks below,” said Jack. : ~The mule was led forward, and the rope tied around his middle. Jack took Be the other rope and he and Bill went to.the rocks alongside the _ big one, leaving Mose to look after the mule. As soon ag they were in position, Jack shouted to ~ Mose to go ahead. : “Gee up, yo’ ole cayuse!” cried Mose. The mule started, but as soon as the rope got taut and he felt a weight at the end, the animal si Cee | SS ed t’s de mattah wid yo’, honey? Get a - -move on yo’. Gee up!” =: Mose slapped the mule on the flank and he . ~ started ahead again. The pull on the rope drew _ the box slowly out of its hole, and soon it swung : clear, just above the surface of the water. The a tnule began to senEe: but making a desperate effort, he drew the up perhaps a yard. He could do no more, and sto : = “Stay dar and hold on,” cried Mose, who then. -_- ¥tiShed down to see the rest of the performance. — - He was deeply interested in the problem of how Jack and Bill were going to land the box. Jack’s plan was to throw the coiled end of the rope he held so that it would drop over the box and then into the water. The current would bear it down close to the rocks, and it could be re- covered. With both ends in their hands, Jack and Bill intended to pull the box as much ~ - possible toward them, which would not be much, < Te and gg. they ground, Un- this grand began to give out. ‘The animal slipped, its balance, and was pulled - . river. Mose and the boys uttered ex- ec ions of dismay as they saw the chest dis- CHAPTER XIV.—Conelusion. yeh gee” cried Mose, “de treasure am lost But it w this story would have a ce The ie alighted. ‘on a flat rock le cataract, when the spray occasioned as * 19 . . “Get after that mule, Mose, and fetch him back?” said Jack. ; The negro boy started to obey orders. “Now how are we going to get that box to the bank?” asked Bill, much concerned over the problem. 3 “Oh, we'll get her somehow,” said Jack, .con- fidently. 2 “T don’t see how.” ; “You and Mose will have to let me down again from the top of the big rock. I'll make the line fast to it, and then, after securing the other line, which broke off close to the mule, I’ll pull myself back. Understand?” = When the. mule was brought back, Jack’s plan was put into operation, and the treasure box was, after much trouble, finally landed on the bank, and dragged by the mule away from the rocks. At Macapa Jack had obtained a small truck, equipped with four iron *Wheels, and he sent Mose to the sloop to get it. In the course of three-quarters of an hour the negro gad re- _turned with it, dragging it over thé ground be- hind him. The mule hauled the box upon it, then the ropes were removed from the box, and attached to the truck. The mule was started ahead, and by easy stages, they eventually reached the bank op- posite the sloop with their prize. Marietta had dinner awaiting for them, and they sat down to it right away. After it was finished, the stern of the sloop was hauied close in to the bank, boards brought for the pw e were laid from the bank to the side of the cockpit, and the box, still on the truck, was shoved across them by the boys, and the chest slid down into the cockpit on skids. The mule had been of such serv- ice to them that it seemed a shame to leave the animal to his own resources again. Jack decided to “tote” him across the stream on the. sloop, and let Mose ride him down to Serpa, where they would meet him. They started on their return journey after breakfast next morning. “They reached Serpa just before dark, and made fast to the wharf, where they found Mose and the mule, who had preceded them by several hours. ae aap ys 3 4 Jack went ashore to hunt up tools with which to open the chest. It took Jack and Bill many hours to break open the cover, an then they found it filled with bags of gold coin and a box full of unset jewels, worth many thou- sands of dollars. A dozen small boxes were ob- tained, and the bags of gold, which they caleu- lated would foot up over $100/000, were nailed up in them. The iron box was then dropped over into the river and sank to the bottom. Another supply of provisions was taken on board, and they started for Macapa in high feather over their success. For several days nothing hap- pened to vary the monotony of the trip down the river. The wind was provokingly light, and they ‘made slow pre ‘particularly when the tide SS, 2 “was against them, which happened twice in every twenty-four hours. Tt may seem strange to the reade= that a pojw- erful: st of water, fed by so many~ big streams throughout its length, the whole nat- — uraily setting toward the’ Atlantic Ocean, should — be in any way influenced by the tides, particu. — larly at a considerable distance from its as

Page 22

20 but such is the fact—the mouth of the Amazon River is 150 miles wide, and it admits the tide for nearly 500 miles. One afternoon a sloop, somewhat larger than their own, hove into view ground a turn they were approaching. As there were few objects to interest them along their way, the sloop naturally attracted their atten- on. eon craft is bound for Serpa, I suppose,” said Lil. “Not necessarily,” answered Jack. “There are trading towns further west than Serpa, not to gpeak of those up the various rivers behind us. The craft may be going a long distance up the river for all we can say.” As the two vessels were headed, they would peas some distance apart, but it was not long fore Jack noticed that the strange craft had altered her course, so that her bows were point- ed across their own sloop’s course. They thought nothing particular of this, as they supposed the strange vessel was aiming to reach the other side the river by degrees. When the distance be- en them was reduced to a few hundred yards, ack shifted the helm so as to give the other raft more room. To his surprise, the strange ~ wessel veered enough to keep her head almost directly for the sloop. ‘ “I wonder what that means?” said Jack. “Looks as if the people aboard of wanted to communicate with us. Go forward, Mose, and | _ $f they hail, ask them what they want.” ~~ ‘The colored boy jumped on deck and went for- . ward. Ten minutes more sufficed to bring the - two crafts. pretty close. ; “Keep off!” shouted Jack, “or you'll run into us,” and with those ‘words, he started the sloop on again, steering wide of the other. : . The strange vessel steered directly for her. ~_. “They don’t mean any good, whoever they are,” said Bill. “I see no one but the fellow at the helm, but there are probably others below. (Maybe they are river thieves, and their object fs to capture us and loot the sloop.” - “They'll have their work cut out, then. Bring out the rifles from the cabin. Come aft here, Mose. Better get under cover, Mariette, for we may have trouble here,” said Jack. has The girl, however, refused to budge. If there ‘was going to be a scrap, she was willing to help the boys to the best of her ability, which stand 3 ed her to be a y arans girl. Bill brought out + the three rifles and handed one to Mariette to hold for Jack. _ ~~ “Give him a shot to show that we mean busi- Mess,” said Jack. -gteersman would feel the wind of the bullet, He ~ dropped down almost out of sight. Presently a _ Shand appeared above the rail and a revolver was discharged. The bullet whizzed between Bill and eee ee Sere eS ee _. “Shoot any one you see!” cried Jack to Bill Bill raised his Remington and fired so that the THE STOLEN CHART could see somebody to shoot, In a minute or two the strange vessel glided alongside their bows, and suddenly three men sprang up out of the cockpit and started to board at the bows. They came in a bunch, with revolvers in their hands. The boys recognized them at once as Jules Cu- chard, Jaques and Clude, and they looked mighty wicked and determined. There was no time to order them back, which would have been use- less; anyway, so Jack and Mose raised their rifles to shoot. Bill, instead of following suit, pulled the piece of tarpaulin cloth off the little brass cannon, which he knew was loaded with a handful of slugs. The vent-hole was primed, ready to be touched off, and was protected by a shield. With one hand Bill raised the shield, and with the other he ignited a match and touched the powder, A ringing report followed and the hail of slugs fairly swept the rascally -attackers off the bows back into the cockpit of their own craft. None was killed, but the legs of the three were either broken or badly cut up. At any rate, they were placed hors de combat. Jack ran for- ward and looked into the other boat. Crouching beside his mangled companions, with his hand on the tiller holding the boat against the sloop, he recognized the villainous Boutelle. “Sheer off, now, you rascal, or I'll put a ball oa you!” cried Jack, covering him with his e. The scoundrel instinctively threw up his hands in token of subniission, e released tiller al- lowed the vessel to float off, and the sloop glided away from her. They met with no further ad- venture on their down trip, reaching Mapaca ten days later. ; Jack found’ that the sloop was for sale, and. purchased her at a fair price. Then, reprovision- ing her, they made the run to Cayenne, without incident, favored by fair weather and a good breeze. From Cayenne they kept on to George- town, where the sloop was sold cheap. They took passage on a British steamer for New York, - with their gold and box of jewels, the steamer - stopping at the principal West Indies islands en route. On their arrival at New York, the jewels were turned over to the customs authorities to be appraised and the duty assessed. Jack paid the duty with cash realized from the sale of the gold, and most of the els were then sold. The amount realized from treasure was $175,- 000, of which Jack and Bill took $75,000 each, and the other $25,000 was divided between Mose and Mariette. Jack and Bill decided to remain in New York and go in business ether. Mari- ette concluded not to return to ce, as she and Jack had become much interested in each other, and didnot want to part company. Mose — went to New Orleans, looking like a colored dude, to surprise his people there with his remarkable prosperity. Subsequently Jack and Mariette married, and the place honor on the walls of their handsome house is occupied by the stolen — chart, in a glass frame, which ever reminds them of how they secured the treasure of the cataract. _

Page 23

pS. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY at : CURRENT NEWS -e BOTTLES IN FOUNDATION Gone are the days of riotous living in Horton, _ Kan., as evidenced by the dismantling of a for- _ ™er resort and the construction on its site of a barber shop. The contractor has utilized the stocks of bottles in the warehouse and the piles of flasks in the yard instead of stone as the con- rete filling for the foundation. The coffin of four full quarts stands braced by a half-pint basket of firewater containers. Bourbon and ap- -plejack alike are gone, but their memory still _¢lings to the possible patrons of the shop. LOST MAN’S BODY FOUND - The body of a man identified as a lumberjack, “who was lost in the woods near Kelliher, Minn., about seven years ago, was found the other day by men who were blasting stumps on the farm of CEP Oy le yee eee | = ————————eee_eeee WOMAN RAISED POTATO CROP “Mrs. Earle Remington, society matron, has = adjoix home, No. own to lained, on the hoe which she has “So I took up farming. myself, except the poe: watching things that one is doing something _ I believe if more s women take up the idea there would be less friv- and more health, as well as more potatoes. nee iets of fun, and I also acquired a fine coat s. Remington rolled back a sleeve and ex- ited some of the evidence. It was very con- ing evidence. ———L— SNAKES AT FASHIONABLE RESORT | . med f hundreds. of in the vicinity of to work Jt is great fun e. sidents cattle that give the best sport. The ancestors of colony ~ “seum and Simpson was placed on th train at Millbrook and taken to St Lake ane pital, Newburgh. Both are in a critical condi- Swenson was sitting on. a wal] in Mi when he heard a peculiar Wibeing scoot nek recognizing it as anything familiar, he looked about and was horrified to find that he was star- ing at a rattlesnake, which was coiled, ready to strike. Instinctively, he threw his hand in the air to shield his face, and as he did so the snake struck, burying its fangs in his arm. Remem- bering all that he had heard of first aid in snake- bite cases, the young man fashioned a tourniquet, then took his penknife and cut away the flesh from the part of his arm penetrated by the snake’s fangs. ABOUT THE DISMAL SWAMP The name Dismal Swamp is a by-word every- where, and a legend has grown up around it of a cacy. boggy, unknown region of snakes and dark, damp ckets, where runaway slaves fled for refuge. This region is but little better | known to-day than it was when George Washing- ton himself laid. out a route through it. The swamp is old historically. The first sete tlers at Norfolk and the region round about knew ; of it as a wild, impassable bit of country full of =~ game and of valuable timber—cvypress, so good ~ for making shingles; juniper, black gum and — beech. In_1728, Col. Byrd, while trying to estab- lish the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina, ran a survey across it, working - mille &-day tusroge the thickioneere teats cake e a day ug e thic wth, i -who named it the Dismal ati Secs jon a Later surveys and rnment maps sh <5 the wilderness contains about 800 saiare "saiiee ‘ of wood and water lying in a tract twenty miles ~ wide and forty-five long, and extending twenty ~ miles into Virginia and twenty-five miles into , North Carolina. The-soi) is a sort of rich black © vegetable mould, dry and caky at some seasons, © rp ar oer with ee at others.. e whole region is like a huge s a eae nately dry and wet, and as the rem tect: : cusly enough, is twenty feet above tidewater, jt ~ ‘is the source of many rivers and streams. ’ ~There are deer in the woods, but it is the wild ~ these “reed fed” cattle, as'they are called, st f in from the fields and-teok up their sheds eee eae swamp. The result.is a race of small, active, wild cattle, the flesh of which is a delicious com- » a of the qualities of wild game and tame - -animals, ; 3 nie There is a chance that before many yeai oe: .greater part of the swamp will be pecounied 4 bed os its present wildness into civilized farm land, | it» will be many: years before the bear and wi cattle and. moccasin snakes disappear from refuges, d befo: th rare Ps Bs : = still dram cbotasistsoand, ee | ‘parts of the country-will be fou! trem c.

Page 24

Lost On Mit. Erebus == OR A Boy Explorer At the South Pole By GAS!ON GARNE (A Serial Story) CHAPTER XI.—(Continued) “Way here, you would certainly need some . one, if only to scold and talk to. Same here for myself. We certainly don’t have a very varied bill of fare. A biscuit a piece and pemmican. Cold tea, teo, By George! I've a notion to try to heat this tea over that red-hot crevice back onder——” = “No; you shall not!” Madge seized the tea eanteen to prevent Joe from going back and hanging it over the edge. “Don’t you see, Joe? Your presence, your voice, are more to me here than any amount of hot drinkables. I love cold tea.” n’t. But I will submit on one condition.” “What is that?” the girl smiled at him sweet- ly, and Hawley restrained himself from taking her in his arms. \ eThat you finish your meal and go right to an see? . He pulled the sleeping bag up over her head, wishing that he might hug the dear girl, bag d all. He often had to restrain these impulses. aily, amid the horrors of this formidable jour- ney, that might well daunt the stoutest man, he had noted her patience, perseverance, resolution, and her more than feminine adaptability. Truly she was a girl out of ten thousand, and Joe Hawley felt that she was becoming the only girl in the wide world—for him. But for the present and for many days to come e knew that it would be more than selfish in to tell her this. Should they two. finally reach the furthest south and return alive—ah! then—then—what might he not say to her? But now he cafefully, almost tenderly per- formed the little duties that would make her com- fortable, then went back to his reckonings, in _ hich he became finally abso = The Aurora’s light enabled him to figure, nor : he conscious that Madge herself watched him = , with meen ecninees that at last gave = to sl as s ‘ ; S What would I do ev eae ' Hawley worked at his observations, an y joneecl his self-imposed task, including a suc- ; account in his of the events of the last —_ or three days, he looked over their jist or r Joe! more weight to his own, 's a little lighter. - l in history,” Joe rum- exactiy as she is now. “Tt is , even fora man. Men of any. si ct Fists os Sac es aS et ae FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY he would have undertaken but for his getting his deg broken. “I’m glad I’m with her, now that he is not able to be. If I know myself, not even Captain Bar- clay would exercise a more tender-care or a deep- er respect for her in this awful solitude than I. “For his sake—for mine, too—I hope that I may return her to him just as he would wish she should be returned. .We may learn to like each other—that cannot be helped. But we will be ~ worthy of his respect—and—and. < Hawley yawned -heavily and realized that he was almost asleep. Five minutes later he was in pre Fin bag and deep in the land of dreams him- self. i They had made their bivouac just far enough within the seam so that the warm breath of the voleano would counteract the extreme cold enter- ing from the outlet. From the time when Joe went to sleep until morning was not many hours. He awoke, after various dreams, a Madge and himSelf were oeerecney. sundry adventures more or less haz- ardous. This was accounted for by the intimate rela- tions’ which their polar journey together had necessarily established between them. ~ Always it was Madge who was being drawn into some crevasse, or other peril, and always Joe was there to exert himself in saving the girl. At last they were walking along the lip of the crater of Erebus, and Madge was forever slipping over the edge. In his dreams this grew monotonous, even ex- asperating to Joe. ‘Next time she slips,” he said to himself in his dream, “I will put myself between her and this crumbling lip that is always giving way. Then I'll see that we keep further from the edge.” In some way this exchange took place. But it seemed to Joe that some one who was not Madge gave him’a push. When he felt himself falling this some one showed Hawley his face, at the same time drawing the girl back to safety. “Gracious!” wailed Joe, feeling that he doomed. “That’s Ben Rucker’s face.” B Madge herself realized this at the same time. She sprang after Hawley’s falling figure, and Joe, in his dream, now a nightmare, heard her — scream: _ “Joe! Save me! I’m falling—falling!” So crushing was the evidence that both of them were falling that Hawley woke up. He opened his eyes lying down and jumped to his feet a very was wide awake young man. his.ears the same cry was Eom ia 9 t was further off, yet distinct. ~ “Save me! I’m falling!” << Instinctively Hawley turned to look at the girl’s glesping bag, which ad between him and ew 0 the outlet a 5 Then his hair rose and skin prickled. 7 Empty! at was all but lost in- ‘Madge’s bag was emp that terrible white silence, came her far-away ee Beyond, like a voice “Save me, Joe!” : a. A apr — bo ptharw ee sw ate she had — gone, it was not towa ing crevice — which crossed the seam or cavern ee tee had passed the last few hours, =. =. (ho be continued) =< - - ge se ee Rehan ari Ls es . te EAE AT ne La © ee

Page 25

WRIT-SERVER STRIPS HORSE Sam Page, a local junk dealer, of Bucyrus, O., r ~~ who left his wagon outside a butcher shop door, BF ‘returned to find the harness gone and the horse standing complacently between the shafts. A leeal constable, Adolph Rinker, had a replevin issued in a Justice Court on the harness and had served the replevin while the owner was buying = z DOG GUIDES BLIND MAN _ Raymond Randolph lost his sight at the Battle of Santiago and his Beanies fox terrior, Lucy acts as his eyes. After having traveled for : * esq in all parts of the country, led all the time y only the faithful and careful dog, Randolph, a 3altimore, is now living in the city again at 125 North Greene Street. He earns a livelihood by _ selling pin-cushions, besides tuning pianos and performing other jobs. Lucy was horn in Spain of a family trained especially for guiding blind ~ people, it is said. Its master says the dog never _ leaves his side for any one with good vision, but will go to another blind person and lead the way just as she does for him. ounts to $700,000. Grace Stone Loyd is to re- - ceive $10,000 outright and the income from $100,- 000, the principal to revert to her children on her development on the part of those curator of the museum’s logy and director of the lowing description of it of the discovery: Pitted | in a brilliant d in a bri _ fell down upon The interior "white with iota af tei ng this in ber FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY | 2a THE NEWS IN SHORT ARTICLES. beauty and perfection has ever been discovered in America. There are several adjoining. rooms that seem to have some relation te this, but it will be some time before they can be dug out. “What we have is obviously the holiest sanctum or shrine of these prehistorie people. There is not much in it, all the sacred objects having been removed from the altar. But a-sacred serpen‘ is carved in wood over the ceiling. It is 2% feet long and of the finest workmanship. On the ceiling beams are imvrints of hands made by) rubbing white paint on the palms and fingers and then pressing down upon the beams. Severa! sheanes of beautifully made rope hang from the ceiling, presumably for the support of hanging objects. On. the floor were a large number o* nicely cut stone slabs, one of which was 2% by 134 feet and 1% inches thick. “There is a painted room in one of the cliff houses in Mesa Verde Park that has some resem- blance to this, but does not compare with the onc we have just found. This room is, however, on‘ more sugzestion that the people who lived in th: cliff houses were the founders of the culture a: Aztec and Bonito.” Dr. Wissler writes that the ruin is now mos! impressive, a large part of it having been ur- covered by the American Museum excavatio: party, which has for five seasons past worke:! under the direction of Earl H. Morris. He adds: “Since the greater part of the west side is now uncovered, one can get a full sweep over thi: immense complex of stone walls and quaint door- ways. This west side of the ruin was occupie’ last, for here all the rooms are well filled wit) _objects left behind, whereas on the side firs* excavated, and apparently long uneccupied, we found little. “Our excavations have revealed one calamity that befell this city. The greater rat of the east and north sides were swept by fire. We cannot be sure that this was due to onc big fire but it was most likely so. The ceilings were o' wood, supported by great logs of cedar anc spruce, overlaid by split cedar and bark. others, and lay in the lower room: in great charred masses. No doubt many preciou: objects went out in this great fire. As ] have saic. before, we found the bodies of several unfortu- - nates caught in the rooms. “As the fire did not reach the west side. we find a large number of rooms with their ceiling still intact, and household utensils on the floo: just as they were left. “I have spent some time estimating the amount of timber used in building this city. There wer the logs of some 200 pine trees, 30 feet long anc About 600 cedar: —__ about 12 inches in diameter. Thess » ~Ss

Page 26

_ death, all the pro _ mA _IN THE NICK OF TIME. By D. W. Stevens. Night shadows were creeping over the land- scape as Sam Carter came to a pause near the banks of a narrow creek, which was overhung by trees and green bushes. A following-piece was flung across one shoulder, while at his belt dangled several squirrels, trophies of the after- noon’s gunning, The sound of voices had suddenly brought the young sportsman to a halt—oices raised high in angry discussion, “You are an interloper here, and shall never step into a dead man’s shoes.” “T bave no wish to; but I mean to see the old ‘place, and kiss Ida for the sake of old times.” “Scoundrel!” Then the voices were drowned by the sounds of a scuffle. What did it mean? Sam Carter moved quickly forward and peered through a thicket, into an open space, to see two tall forms engaged in a furious and desper- ate struggle. He saw the gleam of a knife, and Ikmew that the struggle was a deadly one. Presently a gasping cry announced a fatal ter- ‘mination to the struggle. One of the men went down, and the concealed sportsman saw the form of the victor bending over the man on the ground, holding a bloody knife in his hand, / “This will put you behind prison walls, Master Walter, muttered Carter, as he turned from con- templating the scene and hurried by a round- about course to a mansion not many rods dis- Night now whelmed the earth. For s6me minutes Sam Carter remained out- side, gers | about entering. “This will his proud mother,” muttered the underling. “When old Clawson disinherited his eldest born, and left Eastlawn and all its great wealth to the runaway Oscar, he little thought that he was signingythe death warrant of both his children. While Sam Carter stood thus hesitating and soliloquizing a step fell on his ear, and an in- stant ater hs was confronted by a pallid face— the face of Walter Clawson, the disinhertted son of the dead gence get the old man, but two months dead, had left his vast fortune to his youngest son, Oscar, a boy who had fled from home six years before, cutting off Walter with a shilling, Nig s more than the friends and neighbors could understand. - Old Clawson was a bit miserly. He loved his _ wayward r son te of his unfilial con- duct, and Just Before al seath left everything to party, save the widow's. third , Save the ow’s ley, the old man’s niece, and the wanderer, for a wife. Sam Carter was employed as stableman and __ pverseer on the estate, & position he had filled for some years, — bt Ay ee : “Soon after the death of old Mr. Clawson a let- ~ FAME AND FORTUNE WEBKLY ter had come to the widow, announcing the safe arrival of her long-wandering son from a foreign land, and in a few days he expected to be home again, This night he had come, only to meet a terrible gegra ere his foot touched the threshold of the old home. “Ha! You here?” ejaculated Walter, in a husky tone. “What are you about here? Go to your stables, man, and don’t show yourself again to-night.” “T have a right to be here, Walter Clawsqn— a better right than you. Go in and tell you mother and cousin, Ida, where Oscar Clawson is at this hour. They will never see him alive. I can swear to that.” Then Sam Carter turned on his heel and rushed away. Walter Clawson started, and gazed with dilat- ing eyes after the retreating form of the stable- man. Then a groan escaped his lips. “My God! What does he know?” With this gasping cry the pallid man pushed open the door and entered. He was composed when he entered the presence of his mother and Ida, but his face was still deathly pale. “Where have you been, Walter? I thought you were going to the depot to meet Oscar. We ex- pected him to-night, a know, and it is now full time he was here. he train has been gone an hour.” “Tt has,” admitted the trembling man. “You have not seen Oscar? Oh, this suspense!” murmured the widow. “He did not come to- night, I am sure, or he would have been here be- fore now.” “No, he did not come.” Walter Clawson uttered the words slowly, as if in a dream. ‘Then, unable longer to bear the strain, he hurried from the presence of his mother to his own room. Slowly the moon climbed up from the dark horizon and lit the night with exquisite beauty. Walter still sat at the window of his room, glar- ing out upon the landscape. . Presently. dark objects were séen to move along the country road to the front of the house, A moment they paused at the gate, then entered, and hurried up the-walk to the front door, “We want your son Walter,” was said to the woman who opened the door. The man in the room above waited to hear no more, but hurried below and confronted the men. He knew them. One was Sam Carter and an- other a deputy sheriff. : “You have come to arrest me?” Yas." “My soul! what is this for?” cried Mrs. Claw- _ gon, and the. pallid face and startled eyes of the fair girl looking over the speaker’s shoulder would fain asked the same question. ee oe for the murder of his brother Oscar!” “Ah! This is your work, Sam! There’s a plot to ruin me. I am innocent, can prove it!” uttered Walter, in a tone of bravado. Se =o ~ 2 er re eee oe 2 aes Mother—Idal 0 er

Page 27

Le »- Early on the following day Ida and her aunt, _ {m company with Sam Carter, went to the coun- | __ try village, to be at the examination. Carter said ree of the tragedy during the journey, and _ the women did not question him, : The only witness sworn was Sam Carter, who gave the evidence he possessed in a plain, Straightforward way. A, . The prisoner was remanded to jail, to await - the action of the Circuit Court, soon to convene. Search was made for the body, but none was _ found for some days. Nearly a mile down the creek that ran through Eastlawn a body was at ‘ aeath found, which was too age disfigured _. by decay and the work of the fish for identifica- - It was readily accepted, however, as the body of the murdered heir, since several had seen ~ Oscar leave the train on the afternoon of the murder and turn his steps toward Eastlawn. ‘When the day of trial came the evidence was too strong against the accused to adnmmit of a doubt as to his guilt. ; On the mopning set for the trial Walter Claw- son astonished court and people by pleading guilty. + “l have a short story to tell, and then I am _ -Teady to receive the sentence of the court,” said unjust. I did feel bitter, and when wandering by ‘the brookside on the evening ‘of Oscar’s return was nursing my bitter feelings, trying to crush them out, when who should confront me but Os- ear himself. _He had come up along the brook ~ bank—one of his old haunts—and approached _ the house from the rear. us Aree to met. Oscar was handsome = Tent. "ie epeke lightly of one I love better than life—Ida Kingley—and we quarreled. I cannot say if used the words attributed to me by Sam Carter, but I know that we clinched. I seized my ‘brother’s throat Wy fierce elu Se ae knif ted to, strike me. f Peeled ha . and turned the point of the gleaming Eom e buried in the God j tence was death, and Walter aWSO goniglina’ te the forfeit at the end of six | "On the evening before the da set for the exe- mn 1 da : . Pot ei a6 Ta heartbroken girl, drawn to the embrace of the prisoner. the jailer came to announce that the n Ida repaired to her lover's cell for the last. FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY 25 With one last lingering kiss and caress. Ida suffeyed herself to be led from the cell, and the clang of the closing door shut out the last ray of light from the heart of the doomed man. *Morning dawned bright and beautiful. Ten o’clock came. and Walter Clawson, the fra- tricide, was led forth to his doom. Mrs. Clawson was ill in bed at home, but Ida was not far away, her cheeks flushed with fever- ish excitement, anxious to catch one glimpse of the man she loved ere he was led to his doom. Slowly the-procession filed from the jail, and halted not until the foot of the scaffold was reached. With wonderful coolness the fratricide ascend- ed the steps and stood revealed upon the scaffold. Then the fatal noose was adjusted, and—— “Stop the execution!” : Re A voice, clear and sharp, rang from a distant part of the crowd. A frown mounted the brow of the executioner at the interruption. “Touch the spring, man! What are you wait- ing for?” demanded the sheriff, gruffly. The man employed for the purpose made a move to obey. “In Heven’s name stop this mad work! You are about to hang an innocent man!” There was a commbtion in the crowd. Evident- ly some one was forcing his way toward the scaffold. “Tt’s only a drunken man. dered the sheriff, sterniv. But the man addressed,hesitated. It was well that he did so, for while he stood glaring at the swaying crowd a man burst through the line of guards and stood revealed at the foot of the scaf- fold steps. ¥ “Stop the execution!” cried the newcomer, pantingly. “Walter Clawson is innocent! I am Do your duty!” or- the man for whom he was to die—I am Oscar | Clawson!” All eyes were turned upon the speaker. Great commotion ensued. Several old men present rec- ognized the young heir, and when the cap was . removed the prisoner uttered the name of his brother and then sank fainting on the scaffold. It was true. Oscar Clawson was not dead. He ~ had returned barely in time to save his brother from a felon’s death. : He confirmed the story told by Walter, and OnE ae b t slightl d = ‘I was but slightly wounded, and the moment Walter left I regained my feet. Walter had de- clared me an interloper, and I felt like one. On the spur of the moment, I resolved to-leave, and never trouble my people by claiming Eastlawn. I believed Walter was more entitled to it than myself, amd in the gloom of night I fled. _ “Only two days ago I picked up a paper where- ~in was the announeement of my murder, and the conviction of Walter Clawson for the crime. I was horrified to note the fact that the date on the paper was an old one. With all speed I made my way here, and, thank vas he had Th es, come in time. e body in “creek was never identified. Doubtless ‘the baa son was accidentally drowned. Walter lived to marry Ida, and on . one-half God, have come in e wedding day Oscar <i inheritance to the far mae oe _

Page 28

26 Fame and Fortune Weekly NEW YORK, AUGUST 27, 1920. TERMS TO SUBSCRIBERS Ringle Copies..............- Postage Free.... 07 Cents One Copy Three Months... 5 Oe Si i 90 Cents One Copy Six Months...... < “ $1.75 One Copy One Year....... at = 3.50 . HOW TO SEND MONEY—At our risk send P.-O. Money Order, Check or Registered Letter; remittances in any other way are at your risk. We accept Postage stumps the same as cash. Wheu sending silver wrap the Coin in a separate piece of paper to avoid cutting the evyelope. Write your name and address plainly. Ad- dress jetters to HARRY E. WOLFF, Publisher 166 West 23d St., New York ITEMS OF INTEREST $10,000 FOR A HOG An Iowa firm has become the possessor of Ne- braska’s highest priced hog. Uneeda Orion, a Duroc Jersey boar, was sold by Edgar Taylor of Norfolk to Suder Bros., of Wesley, Ia., for $10,- $ GROWS INTO $3,000,000 IF PYRA- eae MIDED FOR 31 DAYS : If one could have a cent the first day of th month, two cents on the next day, four cents the next, and so on, doubling the amount each day, he would have nearly $3,000,000 at the end of a month of thirty-one days. PREPARED HIS OWN GRAVE Elijah Warden, is aioe ee ces pee, the i hite County, died at his home oldest resident of White ats pee he Some TO ALASKA TO GET REINDEER FOOD OFVilliom C. Redfield, erstwhile Secretary of Commerce and promoter of shark skin shoes, is about to be ipsed. Dr. Edward K. Nelson, chief of the Biological Survey of the Department of- Agriculture, is en route to Alaska to make friends with the reindeer with the idea of making this Eskimo food staple an important addition to the American ‘diet. Since 1893 the Alaskan herds have increased from 143 animals to 150,- Aside from their association with Santa Claus reindeer are noted as the prize boobs of the animal kingdom, surpassing even sheep in that respect. Z FIRST WHALE SHARK CAPTURED as first whale shark ever captured is on ex- es at the Smithsonian Seatiectina at Wash- | ton, D. C., Capt. Charles Thompson, of Miami, = ‘Testy—iWell, I dunno. wor canmnenlibes for a man to realize that his wife i: FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Fla., who has some big fish captures to his credit, including tiie largest devil fish ever lifted to land, is the captor of this monster. He caught it while cruising off Knight’s Key. It took twenty men nearly two days to bring it ashore. Tke net weight of the fish is 30,000 pounds, its length is forty-five feet and its circumference at the thick- est part is twenty-three feet nine inches. The tail measures ten feet from tip to tip. The scientists who looked this fish over. said that he was only an infant whale shark and that full grown ones are two and one-half times as large. It inhabits the ocean at a depth of 1,500 feet and its hide is of great thickness to with- stand the enormous water pressure. A .45-calibre bullet could not even dent it. How this baby whale shark happened to come to the suface is conjecture, one explanation being that it was thrown up by a submarine voleanic disturbance and that in the journey its deep sea diving powers were injured so that it was unable to sink to its natural water level. The whale shark has little circular lidless eyes that are sightless. Its mouth is fifty inches wide and forty-three inches deep, its tongue is forty inches long. Hundreds of teeth line the sides of the jaw. It had a speed on the surface of forty- five miles an hour and put up a fight before be- ing captured that lasted two days and a half. LAUGHS “But,” protested the broker who had adver- tised for a confidential clerk, “you want too much salary.” “I’ve had a great deal of experience in the brokerage business,” urged the applicant. “But you ask too much for it.” “My dear sir, I assure you I’m offering it to you for much less than it cost me.” A bright young man recently visited a friend of his mother. She asked about his mother, and inquired if she raised a good deal of poultry this year. The young man scratched his head in per- plexity, and then replied: “N-n-no, ma’am. She agen a good deal, but the chickens scratched it all up.” “Lady,” said Plodding Pete, “have you any more of dat mince pie dat you can’t use your- self?” “Yes. Here’s nearly half of it. Are you going to eat it all?” “No, lady. I hate to be revengeful; but dat dog of yours has an ugly disposition. I’m going to feed it to him.” “I think,” said young Trotter, “I’ll draw that money Uncle John left to me. I’m thinking of a trip abroad.” “But,” protested his mother,, “you were to save that for a rainy day.” “Well, I’m going to London. I'll be sure to find a rainy day there.” ¥ Mrs. Testy (looking up from the paper )—Isn’t this strange? A man, after a fit of illness, was absolutely unable to remember his wife and «id not believe she was the one he married. Mr. the same woman-that he once went crazy over. —- It’s pretty hard work =~

Page 29

. a FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY Se _ A FEW GOOD ITEMS 8 BALZAC’S JEWELLED CANE - ; Balzac used to enjoy what was described by a “vanity” from the possession of a walking stick _ fearly as big as a drum-major’s staff, and all - ablaze with rubies, diamonds, emeralds and. sap- res. x It was topped by a huge gold knob containing a lock of hair preserited by an unknown lady ad- - mirer. For a long time Balsaz never'appeared in — & 5 value as the years went on. : : ~ . All the jewels he bought or received as pres- ents were plastered on it, for he preferred using _ them in this way to wearing them in rings or tie- — pins. BOF: WILD DUCKS IN DAKOTA : Recent reports from the South Dakota State _ Game Warden’s office say that thousands of wild - ducks have remained in the numerous sloughs - and ponds of the State this summer and are _ hatehing and taking their brood to the water. ~ It is said some of these birds nest fully half a mile from a body of water, concealing: their _ eggs in tufts of grass and hurry their young to _ the water as soon as they are hatched. The out- _ look is favorable for a plentiful supply of young .. Season. : The number which remained, the report con- _ tinues, is greater than that of any former year, and this should add to the abundance of the _ feathered folk to come within range of the hunt- > -er’s. rifle. BURGLARS ONLY BOOTY, RAINCOAT A second-hand raincoat, according to officials of Trimble, Tenn., apparently was the only loot obtained there by enterprising robbers, who, working in a double shift, simultaneously blew : A the safe of the post office and knocked off = Ree atin of the vault of the Farmers ~ —* « ¢ x5 = =e st. Four men are believed by officials of the town to have taken part in the attempted robbery. $65 raincoat, the property of the cashier, was 5. tlie ony. thi ae = oun: me fesk oa8 post office are situated _ © opposite sides of an ally. 3 SS eee _ RENT PROBLEM IS SIMPLE IN BORNEO ~The Dyak women are chiefly occupied with Se toring. cooking, planting the seed and taking care of the children and the house. House- gz in Borneo has its own complications. As nO of families live under one : e ene ee age there may be forty, but in- _ Stances have been known in which as many as Se te, ‘persons were living together in a Bing e community house. : ; _ , The houses are constructed on piles, with lad- s leading to the outer uricovered veranda = “ : Sn e Public without this stick, which increased in_ ducks ready for the hunter at the opening of the. rster. (4 THR SCHEME OF SOLOMON SNARE, by William FRANK TOUSEY, Pub. 163 W. 23d St. N. Y, which runs the entire length of the house. This veranda is used more or less as a public highway. Any one passing through the-village may climb up the ladder at one end, walk along it and climb down the other end in the most casual manner. - Just back of it lies a covered portion of the hoifse and here most of the work is carried on. The men may be seen building a small boat or making brass jewelry; the women -weaving or dyeing.or pounding rice into flour for baking. Opening from the veranda is a series of doors leading into separate’ rooms, one “belonging to each family. Here the Dyaks do their cooking, eating and sleeping, except that unmarried girls usually sleep in a loft reached from the rooms, while the boys occupy the inner veranda. A Dyak has but one wife, and either husband or wife, if found guilty of iNicit conduct, is subject to severe punishment by the community. } A pleasant trait among the Dyaks is their fondness for’.their childyen, whom they have seldom been known to treat With anything: but kindness and indulgence.. They are also kind to old people—unlike other tribes in Bornes, who formerly followed the custom of killing or burn- ing alive those whose usefulness to the com- . munity had been exhausted.—By Gertrude Emer- 4 son, in “Aria” for July. “THE WAY TO BECOME A MOVING PIc. TURE ACTRESS” is in “Moving Picture Stories,” No. 326. Get a copy. Price 7 cents; postage free. HARRY E, WOLFF, 166 W. 23rd St.. N. Y, ———eeESEEESEEeEEeEEE—EEE ee “MYSTERY MAGAZINE” SEMI-MONTHLY 10 CENTS A COPY 5 — LATEST ISSUES —— FE SECRET OF THE SEALE eats Rosemon, BROOK, by Ether 5] THE CLUE OF STEEL, by- Willis Lathrop. 8 ALIAS LOUIS VARDON, by William Hamuton sborne. 5 59 MYSTERY OF THE OLD TIME CLUB,-by Caroline go CALGHT WITH THE EVI 60 CAUG 2 EVIDENCR, “mon. : : by Ethel Rose- 61 A LIPTLE GOLD SPIDER; by Ceci! Burleigh. iW. 62 THE VELVET! TOUCH, by Julia 63. THE LUE or THE RED LAMP. Sg Ful- ; Hamilton Osborne. . The Famous Detective Story Out To-day In No. 65 ts ~ “QUICKER THAN THE EYE,” ere, By Ralph Cummins, wee - “MOVING PICTURE STORIES” A Weekly Magazine Devoted to Photoplays and Players <i PRICE number contains Four ‘S SEVEN CENT HARRY E. WO LFF, Pub. 166 W. 23d St, N. 3

Page 30

RODE BICYCLE TEN MILES EACH DAY - : - WHEN 98 7 Dr. Jessie C. Green, 102 years and 7 months = old, died at his home in West Chester, Pa., lately 3 as a result of falling from a step ladder in his home ten days ago while hanging a picture. _ : “Dr. Green, who was a Quaker, was born in <a Delaware County, Pa., Dec. 13, 1817; was a - school teacher in early life and later a dentist. “Early to bed and early to rise,” was his lifelong motto, he often said. He never used tobacco or aes intoxicants and drank his last cup of coffee in“ 1844. Until six years ago he was in the habit 2 . - of taking a daily ten-mile bicycle ride before = breakfast. ee ee He leaves a sister in her eighties and a son 2S about sixty years old. s RAWS ON STEEL WALL OF JAIL WON- : -DERFUL PICTURE OCF CHRIST On a Sunday morning in March, 1917, while he was in the County Jail at San Bernardino, await- ing trial, Ramon Garcia, ex-convict, drew upon the steel wall of his boxlike cell a picture of Christ on the Cross. a . John N. Hilliard tells us that, “With the stub of an old pencil borrowed from accommodat- ing jailer—genius has ever made use of the first tal that comes to hand—he fashioned a remark- — . . able picture.’ : ; “And straightway certain events outside of the established o1der happened. Like concentric rings upon the face of the water the fame of it spread, -erossing the Sierras of the Snows, going beyond = ies, eventually reaching the Atlantie hin- _ terland. “The man who had pencilled the picture on the steel wall had long since gone to prison, but the cell he had occupied in the County Jail had be- come a-yeritable shrine, And the town of San Bernardino had become.a place of great pilgrim- 5 ERI Fa $3 ous. 3 Eventually the sentence of the thrice-convicted felon was commuted and already the young Mexi- can has begun to make ‘good. “The likeness of Marshal Joffre, done on can- yas. shortly after Garcia’s release from prison, was presented to the Latin-American Institute. It is a remarkable piece of portraiture, when you consider that the man who drew it has had no a primer knowl- raft. - ; t of Judge Dewhirst, done from likeness. Perhaps the most “And-it is L : -who- . boo FAME AND FORTUNE Ww EEKLY GOOD READING. nubbin; the patient, kindly man with the smile, the sad eyes, the worn face, who had been lifted up to guide a Nation.” WHY BE A SAPHEAD? Sap Hawkins imagines himself to be the “wise — guy in his own home town,” but Sap’s imagina- tion is his chief characteristic. When the school teacher told Sap’s father, “I can’t teach him any- thing,” he ey Sap ripe for wider fields. First, he placed. him with the village blacksmith, but this connection ended disastrously for Sap at the end of the second day. In desperation the father then arranged for him to read law in the office of a prosperous firm of attorneys at the county seat, 7 2 After he had pursued his studies for two full weeks, Sap and a rainbow silk shirt returned to spend Sunday with the folks. “Well, Sap,” asked one of the crowd around the Palace drug store corner, “How do you like the law?” “Aw, I don’t think much of the law,” answered the Blackstone of two weeks; “I’m sorry I ever learnt it.” : Strange as it may seem, there are many per- sons who feel the same way about thrift and sav- ing. They may save spasmodically for a couple _ of weeks and then bob up serenely with: “I.don’t think much of it. I’m sorry I learnt it.” On the other hand, the person who is determined to give the savings habit a fair trial never fails to en- thuse as he sees his efforts bring to him those things which make life really worth while. It is a healthy sign of the times, for it follows as night the day that individual prosperity means national prosperity. * Insofar as the individual is concerned, he never - will be too old to spend but he. may grow too old to earn. Never has there been so golden an op- portunity to put by a few dollars as now and it _ is just plain common sense for those to earn while earning is good and set-aside something for a happy and contented old age. The way to provide for those days is to save first and spend ‘afterward, to take a certain amount out of the — regular income and invest it where it will be — safe and will. grow. ; 7. For the person with an average income, buying Government Savings securities from your bank or Post Office is an ideal procedure for starting _ a Savings account with Uncle Sam. When you ~ have accumulated $84.00 in Savings Stamps, you can exchange it for a Treasury Savin Zs = cate which will pay you back an even $100 on January 1, 1925. - you have learned the — real joy of saving you never will be sorry that. you “learnt it.” : a:

Page 31

ABOUT TEMPERING COPPER The Aztecs, Toltees and Ta- Yascans, it 1s said, possessed in prehistoric ages the art of tem- pering copper. Copper axes an knife’ blades found at Atca- potzaleo are so soft they can be eut with an ordi- nary pocket- knife. On the other hand, Ta- rascan copper cutting imple- ments from the Balsas River ruins in Gue fa) were so hard that they would turn the edge of a modern knife. Analysis showed that these differ- ent blades were of the same com- position as the eopper ores found in the re- spective locali- ties. The soft blades were made from compara- tively pure cop- per otes, while the hard, appar- ently tempered blades from Guerrero, were made from the natural ores which existed in » the holls, alloyed with nickel and cobalt; thus mak- ing the smelted metal (or alloy) almost as hard as steel. Hence the so-called temper- ing was due to the natural alloy found in the ore, which when heated and sharp- ened gave a hard cutting edge. On the other hand, where the ores were practically i> copper, the lements, Siete. from such ores were soft remain so to this day. Boys and Girls’ Auto Given A Real Auto With a 5-Herse-Power Engine This classy racer will do anything a = full-sized car will do because i it is built Se akon automobile. It will even go where a big ag Sn Bey can’t go. mie it ae a cnasbey wines 50 Boe ; youcouldridea Fon Se Yecrcantannettatathement : fromanyone. WIS CLASSY CAR CAN BE YOURS : apenl look at the happy faces in this pic~ S ture. Don’t they look like they were ready for a real time, perhaps off on an rend a See Mote other Se a jaunt to the bans them? Set t you like to be and be s young Barney Send No Meney— Just Your Name ne Your Bame an wo my f 4 tions. When Itel ‘ free—I mean free—it won't coat you An, net eee -y rie be given i DON’T SEND A CENT Alyce, sei 'o20 ror fete | dress quick, A post card will do. Hurry if eae r~ Ara me CY SEYMOUR, Mer., Dept.27, Batavia, i]. boys’ and girls’ auto without it nes: yous wok at. Send today—quick!: first. OBACCO Hyetdne, Or SNUFF HABIT = Cured or NO PAY' a No matter whether used in pipe, cigarette, cigars, chewed, or used in the form of snuff, Superba Tobacco Remedy contains nothing injurious, no dope, poisons or habit form- ing drugs. Guaranteed. Sent on trial. If it cures costs you one dollar. If it fails, or if you are not perfectly satisfied, costs you nothing. Write for full remedy today. = -SUPERBA COMPANY, M21, Baltimore, Md. Spice ta wi pie ew special QUICK HAIR GROWTH: said ge tires, Ree Box Free To You TY MER, President BANNER R TAILOR! ING CO. Dent _ Dent. 7A) FACT FACTORY-TOQ- RIDEE SAVES YOU MONE Buy direct and save $10 to $20 ons bicycle. RANGER CYCLES nov come in 44 styles, ap eatly improved; prices reduced. Wi Deviver FREE to you on ra 30 days tric!, actual riding tec’ . EASY PAYMENTS prphaene ats & small advance over our Regular Fae fy tory-to-Rider cash prices. 4 TIRES, lamps, shosias eee ane supplies at half usuat Do net buys wavile, Sheen, tires, or cue dries until Ranger = log, fee prcesan liber = MEAD svcrs compan made to your mens . .inthelatest style tifol seme a and eplency ee new atyles* Could you use a littie spare Would You Like Such a Result as This? De you want, free, 2 tria! box of Kose k that bes proved euccessful in se many Ifso, you need only to answer thisady. Ao Hagen or Jetrer, aoking for FREE BOX. - Hopes saint bard md EE 1 “GALDRESS. = ish deaths been reported whea pire petra rena § not see for —s ony itis Speen om EE bait se ere days, Address? Koskott Laboratory, East 32d St., wAt03 , New York, WN. ¥. Pee Sih RSENS AO re a “> on Girist all pe at OLR coINs WANTED $2 to $500 EACH paid for Hundreds of Coins dated before 1895, Keep ALL old Money. You may have Colus werth « Large Premium. Send 10c. for new Illustrated Coin Value Book, size 4x6 Get Posted at Once. eas » CLARKE COIN CO., Box 35, Le Rey, N. © OLAXO | TRIGK co., _ ee Deot- S-. Wow Maven, Seem, Maven, Conn. eEeres femal Se a

Page 32

Baldness Conquered A veteran business man; who was al- Most completely beld and had tried tonics, lotions, shampoos, etc., in vain, came across an In- dians’ elixir by which he grew a complete crop of healthy hair. The hair elixir is called “KOTALKO.". Many others, Be, men and women, have reported ki <a eaid ie hair growth, Wi: relief from dandruff, cessation Bald of falling hair by using Kotalko, In a vast number of cases, when hair falls out, the rocts are not dead, but remain for some time imbedded in the scalp, like seeds or buibs, needing only fertility. The usual | hair tonics, etc., are no ayvail...The Indians’ method fs pur- pos to seurish the hair and stimuizte the rowth, lt costs 20 little to try EKotalko it would & pity to lose the boon which this might bring to you. % Wonderful results report- ea. For men’s, women’s and children’s hair. W you aro bald, or losing hair, or have dandruff ow “should .t KOTALK6; it it may be what's needivl for your ip and in brass fend Se a ploas- ure to observe e starting rown of new hair and its steady Bats G increase until prolifie growth. Obtain a full box of Kotalko (with S500 Guarentee) at any busy drug! tore. Or a proof box will be mailed free if you send 10 cents, silver or stamps, to pay part advertising cost, to Jt Brittzin,BM-103,Sta. F, New York, N.Y. CET ON THE ‘STAGE 5 VAUDEVILLE’ performer, witbook, sail 4b eat ic dein Pai. AGrrevenc tiG LADELLE. fu. 2, dia 214, JACKSON. <miCH, WONDERFUL, NEW DEVICE @ guides your hand; gg “ae your writing in afew days. B: mM improvernent in three ‘aed No fadures: ao plete out- line FR C.J. se ts: Dept. Mo. de to your measure, } payable after meacatey % Apes fit, es and tailoring, all guaranteed or no pay. eons free. Every man wanting to ic wel d gave money should wri a] Int once for our fol free ree took ot te every aaee. Wri Chicago, ILL im world! Tires, Jgmps, horns, rims, 4 Send FREE “ra saEsourTe" ee ere In ordér to introduce our wonderfil Everwear Donble Fabric Reconstructed Ti ires, guaranteed 6000 miles, we give you, absolutely free, a new higirgrade standard make tub ith every purchaze of a tire. No more than four tires and four tubes to each customer, Order at once while stock is complete, Satisfaction Guaranteod cr Money Refunded Prices Include Tire and Tube oliner With Each Tire 4 In ordering. be gute to state eize wanted, also . clincher, p.sin S, i ee end EVERWEAR TIRE & RUBBER co. Dept. 145 3935 Washington Btvd.. Chicago References: Madison & Kedzic State Pank Have fun and healthful exercise f] with a bicycle! Own the Black the finest b No waiting! for catalog, select your and we'll ship at once. Pay a small deposit, then $1 @ week Direct to you Beauty, (or $5 a month). % at Factory Price. 131 A WEEHR Pays for the "Black Beauty B18 Exclusive equipment includes A Features $0 Firestone Biue ‘#1 Non-Skid Tires; New 4 sane Brake; motoreycle sad- m dle, S chrome steel ball ‘FR EES oar Kit, Toot The wonderful Black Beauty Departure pedals ‘and ag bearings, étc. Five yr. pad gl — ay a insurance on the wheel. Tho Black Beauty has sporty lines, marvelous steel construction, dazzling finish. Weite to-day for Catalog. Sondr' oe our factory prices. ies Lowest tn the emeg for Free Sundries Catalog. . HAVERFORD CYCLE CO. Dept. 526 PHILADELPHIA Catalog in colors =. nents ey, etal hull, rao P curt. i30 ~~ .. fe is in, “3 ‘ should have < lean flag FREE. ag refunded if desired. F.W. LEWIS CO., 1402 BROADWAY. NEW YORK CITY HOW ODOR TRAVELS The rapid prop- tion of smeils agat noticed in the open air appears due j currents, since i small tubes; where currents do not exist, the rate is fc very 4 smal. E-xperiments along this line were first under- taken in Engiand by Prof. Ayrton, With ammonia diffusing through a tube a meter and a half long, over two hours elapsed before the smell could be detected at the other end of the tube. Using dif- ferent lengths of tubing, it was found that the time required for the diffusion of the smell was rough!y propor- tioned to the square of the léngth. Ammonia and hydrogen sulphide were used for these experiments. The presence of am- monia could be detected chemi- cally at a point in a_tube after about the Same time as when the sense of smell was used for a detector. The rate of propage- tion of the smell of ammonia was not markedly dif- ferent when. this had to pass along the same _ tube either horizontal- ly or verticaily upward or verti- cally downward. With camphor, however) while the rates itech tally and down-- ward were about the _ same, speed upward. was about twice as great,

Page 33

| HOW TO SAVE ¢ | MONEY = . Ten dollars a} month saved and| put out at 4 per = a : e letters of the alphabet are numbered cent. compound 2 and 80 on. The figures in the little aaah: hd Boat interest will show ~, four words. (20 ia the letter “T"). What are the four words? Can a you wor ou 80, send your answer quick. Surely you of “oy engpeerien want this fine, new Fordauto. Send no money with solution. ~ SEND ANSWER TO-DAY ; years; $7.50 a 3 7 We not onl: away this Ford suto, but hundreds of doll month will show scores of wr vane prizes plcycles, Guns, Watches 106 ~n $6 a sort. These are nolesers. Nothing difficult to do. Everybody wine, Some- month wili show one gets this new 1919 Ford Auto free. Why not yout Address sn $5 a a 141 West Ohio Street, Dept. 74, Chicago, Il. show 737; $4.50 a month will show $663; - - #4 « month will) He Quit Cigarettes ow $589; $35 oer t show A wonderful relief from slav- ) Earn Genuine Watch THIN MODEL. Lever Esca) STEM WIND. STEM SET. Aer st 20 = damaskeened movement,fully guaranteed. Regulated to keep perfect time, Vot « smalleleck,buta genuine watch,1n size ae pearance equal to & $20 watch. END NO MONEY. Just name, and i Mieend you léof our new Art Pic- “JM tures to dizpose of at 25c each. Send us the $2.60 you a acliecd and as @ reward we will send you this new thin model, lever escapement,stem wind and stem set match, juatas deveribed, also cholcet fob fobor pees ~ eo 337 W: Madison St, Dept. Tas CHICAGS SORENESS HEALED e ed veins, : Making a total of! eczema healed while you work. Write for Milwaukee, Wis. | THE BOYS’ MAGAZINE A SIX MONTHS’ SUBSCRIPTION T0- THE BOYS’ MAGAZINE FOR ONLY 50 CENTS! By accepting this remarkable low price offer you save 70 cents over the newsstand price a8 our price PER COPY is 20 cents. THE BOYS’ MAGAZINE is the finest boys’ periodical in America. Each issue contains from 15 to 22 thrilling short stories, from 3 to 4 splendid serial stories besides a@ wealth of special departments devoted to Electricity, Mechanics, Wireless, Popular Sclence, Athletics and Physical Training, Editorials, Stamp and Coin Collect- ing, Review of New Boys’ Books. Moving Picture Plays and Players, Stories by Boys, Debating, Outdoor Sports, Amateur Photography, Taiks with Parents, Boys Who Are Winning Business Success, ete., etc. Besides ail this we are now publishing, fo each issue, a large nusm- ber of ftilustrated jokes drawn by the best professional comic artists in America. Send only 50 cents today (send stamps if more con- yenient) and we'll enter your subscription at onte. You are not taking the slightest chance AS WE WILL REFUND YOUR MONEY IMMEDIATELY shouid you not be more than pieased with THE BOYS’ MAGAZINE. Our firm is incorporated for $200,000.00 under the Jaws of the State of Pennsylvania. Every banker and publisher in America will tell you we are ABSOLUTELY RELIABLE. So send along your subscription and if THE BOYS’ MAGAZINE doesn’t far exceed your expeetations we'll refund your money promptly and without question. Address: The Scott F. Redfield Co., Ine. 5040 Main St., Smethport, Pa. is on sale at a!) newsstands 20 cents a@ copy. NOW, JAZZ "EM UP, BOYS! A NEW AND NIFTY INVENTION Slide Flute Piccolo played Instantly. 25¢ prin WANTED STEWART CO., 321K W. 48th St.. N. ¥. G Ties Narastaeerr WARD D PUB. Cu., TILTON, N.

Page 34

— physically. _ enjoyment, DEAF GIRLS CLEVER BALL-. PLAYERS To watch girls playing ball with- out the usual noise of chatter but with an equal amount of enthusiasm, to see the players send signals to their teammates by a quick fiash of the fingers and cover each move of | | 761 Taking a Big Risk; or, The Dime That Led To Riches. the game with keen aggression is a spectacle that would arrest the at- tention of even the most casual spec- tator. ¢ Athletics and gymnasium work in many of the largest schools for the instruction of the deaf are claiming} more and more an active place in the interest of the girls, and many of them are showing most promising re- sults from their spirit and work in basketball, fencing, giant’s stride and other games. 3 Basketball is particularly popular. Signals are given by a quick gesture, everything depending upon the clos- est attention being given to the girl who holds the ball and decides upon the next move. By one simple movement of the hand a player can send a call to one of her mates or express her seorn at her opponent’s bungling. The player | full instructions for writing letters on almost any ‘follows the passes and rules of the game by keeping the eye constantly alert to cateh every movement of the | six illustrations. By A. Anderson. opponent. The rules of the game are so vital | : FAME AND FORTUNE WEEKLY — LATEST ISSUES —— se 753 The oan, A or, The Boys Who Won the Money. 754 Will, the Waif; or, From Bootblack to Merchant. 755 Prince of the Curb; or, A College Boy in Wall Street. 756 Wrecked in the Gulf; or, The Gold of the Old Buccaneers. 757 The Rival Boy Brokers; or, Out for Every Deal in Sight. 758 Under the Big Tent; or, From Acrobat to Manager. 759 A Pair of Jacks; or, The Smartest Messengers in Wall Street 760 Brave Billy Bland; or, Hustling Up a Business. 762 Clear, Grit; or, The Office Boy Who Made Good. 73 Dealiig in Stocks; or, Saved by a Wall Street Ticker. 764 The Sailor's Secret; or, The Treasure of Dead Man's Rock. 765 Capturing the Coin; or, The Deals of a Boy Broker. 766 On His OGwn Héok; or, Making a Losing Business Pay. 767 Lucky Jim; or, $100,000 From Stocks. 768 “Millions In It’; or, A Boy With Ideas. 7s a eee? of a Mining Chart; and, The Wall Street Boy Who olve ; ‘770 Grasping His Chance; or, The Boy Merchant of Melrose. 771 Winning By Pluck; or, The Deals That Made the Dollars. 772 The Crimson Mask; or, The Treasure of San Pedro. 773 hg ae the Boy Broker; or, Working the Wall Street Steck arket. 774 Playing a Lone Hand; or, The Boy Who Got the Gold. 775 Will Fox of Wall Street; or, The Success of a Boy Broker. 776 A Lad of Iron Nerve; or, Little Joe’s Big Bonanza. 777 Too Lucky to Lose; or, A Boy With a Winning Streak. For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 7 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by HARRY E. WOLFF, Pub., 166 West 23d St.. New York, ooooaj———S—=— eee ee””>”md®d-CO OUR TEN-CENT HAND BOOKS No. 744. HOW TO WRITE LETTERS CORRECTLY.—Containing subject; for ae re a got composition, with specimen iaame pa Sosy No. 35. O BECOME A CONSURER.—Cont with Dominves, Dice Cups and Balls, Hats, ete. maerenen thieiee No. 76. HOW.TO TELL FORTUNES BY THE HAND ing rules for telling fortunes by the aid of lines of the ee reg secret of palmistry. Also the secret of telling future events by aid to the deaf girl that when she has/of moles, marks, scars, etc, Illustrated. -thoroughly mastered them she cannot be shaken in her understanding of what she has learned. Each player becomes so attentive that should a/ description of the mysteries of Magic foul be made and the referee not be | W'X% quick in. detecting _would be routed by the volley of pro- test. Athletics are a natural outlet for the energy of healthy girls possess- ing all the faculties of hearing and speech, but to the deaf girl sport at first means iabor until interest is aroused. It is an unfortunate fact that in some of the schools the girls have never received athletic atten- tion in proportion to that given to boys. At one school three-quarters of an hour during the»week is devot- ed to the girls’ physical exercises, al- though the boys ee the privilege of at least that length of time each day. Tanaiag from the rings in their gymnasium is a bit of fun and exer- ge that appeals to these young girls. t is considered most excellent for the deaf mute, as it brings into play those muscles which need strengthen- ing to assist them both mentally and The sensation of flying through space, as in swinging, is also a on delight. : _ They enter into folk dancing and social dancing with much spirit and | i / it that person} instructions how to make up for various characters on No. 77. HOW TO DO FORTY TRICKS WITH CARDS.— ing deceptive Card Tricks as performed by leading conjurers “and magicians. Arranged for home amusement. Fully illustrated. No, 73. HOW TO DO THE BLACK ART.—Containing a complete and Sleight-of-hand, together _ By A. Anderson. Illustrated, AN ACTOR.—Containing complete the stage; together with the duties of the Stage Manager, Scanian Artist and Property Man. ‘ = ger, Prompter, Scenic No, 80. GUS WILLIAMS’ JOKE BOOK.—Containin sener snectetes ang funny ig of this world-renowned tenant comedian Sixty-four pages; handsome colored cover, ¢ ini half-tone photo of the author. containing “a No. 81, HOW TO MESMERIZE.—Containing the most’ method of mesmerism; animal magnetism, or magnetic beatin ae Prof. Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S., author of “How to Hypnotize,” ate y No. 82. HOW TO DO PALMISTRY.—Containing the most a proved methods of reading the lines on the hand, together with D- full explanation of their meaning. Also explainin phrenology EY the key. of telling characters by the bumps on the head By Leo Hugo Koch, A.C.S. Fully illustrated, For sale by ali newsdealers, or will be sent to coceint ot prine. ibe. Yer copy, or 9 for te. ta musty stamps, by ~ FRANK TOUSEY, Pubs ith many wonderful experiments. 79. HOW TO BECOME mvuney or Destase » 168 West 23d s8t., Now York. SCENARIOS. Sitcs minx This book contains all the most recent changes in the method of construction and submission of scenarios. Sixty Lessons, covering every phase of scenario writing, from the most ele- mental to the most advanced principles. This treatise covers everythi a person must ge in order make money as @ suceessful scevario writer, For sale by News-deaiers and } Book-Stores. If you cannot @ copy, send us the price, procure or postage stamps, and we wiil mail you one, . L, SENARENS, 219 Seventh Ave, New York, N. ¥.

Page 35

Page 36